Deep blue autofluorescence reflects the oxidation state of human transthyretin.

Human transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein transporting thyroid hormones and retinol. TTR is a neuroprotective factor and sensor of oxidative stress which stability is diminished due to mutations and aging, leading to amyloid deposition. Adverse environmental conditions, such as redox and metal ion imbalances, induce destabilization of the TTR structure. We have previously shown that the stability of TTR was disturbed by Ca2+ and other factors, including DTT, and led to the formation of an intrinsic fluorophore(s) emitting blue light, termed deep blue autofluorescence (dbAF). Here, we show that the redox state of TTR affects the formation dynamics and properties of dbAF. Free thiols lead to highly unstable subpopulations of TTR and the frequent ocurrence of dbAF. Oxidative conditions counteracted the destabilizing effects of free thiols to some extent. However, strong oxidative conditions led to modifications of TTR, which altered the stability of TTR and resulted in unique dbAF spectra. Riboflavin and/or riboflavin photoproducts bound to TTR and crosslinked TTR subunits. Riboflavin-sensitized photooxidation increased TTR unfolding, while photooxidation, either in the absence or presence of riboflavin, increased proteolysis and resulted in multiple oxidative modifications and dityrosine formation in TTR molecules. Therefore, oxidation can switch the role of TTR from a protective to pathogenic factor.

Deep blue autofluorescence reveals the instability of human transthyretin.

Wild-type human transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein that transports thyroxine and retinol in the blood and brain. However, a number of mutations or aging leads to destabilization of the quaternary structure of TTR, which results in dissociation of TTR tetramers to monomers, followed by oligomerization and subsequent amyloid formation. TTR amyloid is a pathogenic factor underlying several diseases. It has recently been documented that destabilization of the structure of TTR is driven by Ca2+. The present work shows that the in vitro redox conditions contribute to the destabilization and formation of the highly unstable substoichiometric population(s) of TTR molecules. Importantly, destabilized TTR forms acquire the ability to emit fluorescence in the blue range of the light spectrum. Dithiothreitol (DTT), in the presence of Ca2+, enhances the formation of complex autofluorophore which displays maxima at 417 nm and 438 nm in the emission spectrum of TTR.

Transthyretin: From Structural Stability to Osteoarticular and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric protein transporting hormones in the plasma and brain, which has many other activities that have not been fully acknowledged. TTR is a positive indicator of nutrition status and is negatively correlated with inflammation. TTR is a neuroprotective and oxidative-stress-suppressing factor. The TTR structure is destabilized by mutations, oxidative modifications, aging, proteolysis, and metal cations, including Ca2+. Destabilized TTR molecules form amyloid deposits, resulting in senile and familial amyloidopathies. This review links structural stability of TTR with the environmental factors, particularly oxidative stress and Ca2+, and the processes involved in the pathogenesis of TTR-related diseases. The roles of TTR in biomineralization, calcification, and osteoarticular and cardiovascular diseases are broadly discussed. The association of TTR-related diseases and vascular and ligament tissue calcification with TTR levels and TTR structure is presented. It is indicated that unaggregated TTR and TTR amyloid are bound by vicious cycles, and that TTR may have an as yet undetermined role(s) at the crossroads of calcification, blood coagulation, and immune response.

Destabilisation of the structure of transthyretin is driven by Ca2.

Tetrameric transthyretin (TTR) transports thyroid hormones and retinol in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid and performs protective functions under stress conditions. Ageing and mutations result in TTR destabilisation and the formation of the amyloid deposits that dysregulate Ca2+ homeostasis. Our aim was to determine whether Ca2+ affects the structural stability of TTR. We show, using multiple techniques, that Ca2+ does not induce prevalent TTR dissociation and/or oligomerisation. However, in the presence of Ca2+, TTR exhibits altered conformational flexibility and different interactions with the solvent molecules. These structural changes lead to the formation of the sub-populations of non-native TTR conformers and to the destabilisation of the structure of TTR. Moreover, the sub-population of TTR molecules undergoes fragmentation that is augmented by Ca2+. We postulate that Ca2+ constitutes the structural and functional switch between the native and non-native forms of TTR, and therefore tip the balance towards age-dependent pathological calcification.

Destabilised human transthyretin shapes the morphology of calcium carbonate crystals.

Human transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetramer that transports thyroid hormones and retinol in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. TTR is also an intracellular protein found in tissues such as those in the brain, eye and pancreas. TTR is a nutrition marker, reflecting the health of the organism, and TTR levels are linked to the normal and diseased states of the body. The switch from a protective to a pathological role is attributed to the destabilisation of the TTR structure, which leads to tetramer dissociation and amyloid formation. Native and destabilised TTR have been associated with osteoarthritis and bone density in humans. Moreover, TTR is present in eggshell mammillary cones; therefore, we verified the putative TTR engagement in the process of mineral formation. Using an in vitro assay, we found that TTR affected calcium carbonate crystal growth and morphology, producing asymmetric crystals with a complex nanocrystalline composition. The crystals possessed rounded edges and corners and irregular etch pits, suggesting the selective inhibition of crystal growth and/or dissolution imposed by TTR. The occurrence of many porosities, fibrillary inclusions and amorphous precipitates suggested that destabilisation of the TTR structure is an important factor involved in the mineralisation process. Crystals grown in the presence of TTR exhibited the characteristic features of crystals controlled by biomineralisation-active proteins, suggesting novel functions of TTR in the mineral formation process.

Is Transthyretin a Regulator of Ubc9 SUMOylation?

Ageing and mutations of transthyretin (TTR), the thyroid hormones and retinol transporting protein lead to amyloidosis by destabilizing the structure of TTR. Because protein structure is regulated through posttranslational modifications, we investigated the Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO)ylation of TTR. We chose the widely used Ubc9 fusion-directed SUMOylation system, which is based on a fusion of the SUMOylation substrate of interest with Ubc9, a sole SUMO conjugating enzyme. Surprisingly, despite our presumptions, we found that Ubc9 fused to TTR was SUMOylated at a unique set of lysine residues. Three unknown SUMOylation sites of Ubc9-K154, K18 and K65-were revealed by mass spectrometry (MS). The previously reported SUMOylation at K49 of Ubc9 was also observed. SUMOylation of the lysine residues of TTR fused to Ubc9 was hardly detectable. However, non-fused TTR was SUMOylated via trans-SUMOylation by Ubc9 fused to TTR. Interestingly, mutating the catalytic residue of Ubc9 fused to TTR did not result in complete loss of the SUMOylation signal, suggesting that Ubc9 linked to TTR is directly cross-SUMOylated by the SUMO-activating enzyme E1. Ubc9, TTR or fusion proteins composed of TTR and Ubc9 specifically affected the global SUMOylation of cellular proteins. TTR or Ubc9 alone increased global SUMOylation, whereas concomitant presence of TTR and Ubc9 did not further increase the amount of high-molecular weight (HMW) SUMO conjugates. Our data suggest that TTR may influence the SUMOylation of Ubc9, thereby altering signalling pathways in the cell.

Multidomain sumoylation of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) from Drosophila melanogaster.

The 20-hydroxyecdysone receptor (EcR) is a transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily. Together with the ultraspiracle nuclear receptor (Usp) it coordinates critical biological processes in insects such as development and reproduction. EcR and its ligands are used in commercially available ecdysone-inducible expression systems and are considered to be artificial gene switches with potential therapeutic applications. However, the regulation of EcR action is still unclear, especially in mammals and as far as posttranslational modifications are concerned. Up until now, there has been no study on EcR sumoylation. Using bioinformatic predictors, a Ubc9 fusion-directed sumoylation system and mutagenesis experiments, we present EcR as a new target of SUMO1 and SUMO3 modification. Our research revealed that EcR undergoes isoform-specific multisumoylation. The pattern of modification remains unchanged in the presence of the ligand and the dimerization partner. The SUMO acceptor sites are located in the DNA-binding domain and the ligand-binding domain that both exhibit structural plasticity. We also demonstrated the existence of a sumoylation site in the F region and EcRA-A/B region, both revealing characteristics of intrinsically disordered regions. The consequences of modification and the resulting impact on conformation and function may be especially crucial for the disordered sequences in these two areas. The isoform-specificity of sumoylation may explain the differences in the transcriptional activity of EcR isoforms.

Alternative sumoylation sites in the Drosophila nuclear receptor Usp.

The ultraspiracle protein (Usp), together with an ecdysone receptor (EcR) forms a heterodimeric ecdysteroid receptor complex, which controls metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster. Although the ecdysteroid receptor is considered to be a source of elements for ecdysteroid inducible gene switches in mammals, nothing is known about posttranslational modifications of the receptor constituents in mammalian cells. Up until now there has been no study about Usp sumoylation. Using Ubc9 fusion-directed sumoylation system, we identified Usp as a new target of SUMO1 and SUMO3 modification. Mutagenesis studies on the fragments of Usp indicated that sumoylation can occur alternatively on several defined Lys residues, i.e. three (Lys16, Lys20, Lys37) in A/B region, one (Lys424) in E region and one (Lys506) in F region. However, sumoylation of one Lys residue within A/B region prevents modification of other residues in this region. This was also observed for Lys residues in carboxyl-terminal fragment of Usp, i.e. comprising E and F regions. Mass spectrometry analysis of the full-length Usp indicated that the main SUMO attachment site is at Lys20. EcR, the heterodimerization partner of Usp, and muristerone A, the EcR ligand, do not influence sumoylation patterns of Usp. Another heterodimerization partner of Usp - HR38 fused with Ubc9 interacts with Usp in HEK293 cells and allows sumoylation of Usp independent of the direct fusion to Ubc9. Taken together, we propose that sumoylation of DmUsp can be an important factor in modulating its activity by changing molecular interactions.

The composite nature of the interaction between nuclear receptors EcR and DHR38.

Ecdysteroids coordinate essential biological processes in Drosophila through a complex of two nuclear receptors, the ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) and the ultraspiracle protein (Usp). Biochemical experiments have shown that, in contrast to Usp, the EcR molecule is characterized by high intramolecular plasticity. To investigate whether this plasticity is sufficient to form EcR complexes with nuclear receptors other than Usp, we studied the interaction of EcR with the DHR38 nuclear receptor. Previous in vitro experiments suggested that DHR38 can form complexes with Usp and thus disrupt Usp-EcR interaction with the specific hsp27pal response element. This article provides the experimental evidence that EcR is able to form complexes with DHR38 as well. The recombinant DNA-binding domains (DBDs) of EcR and DHR38 interact specifically on hsp27pal. However, the interaction between the receptors is not restricted to their isolated DBDs. We pre\xadsent data that indicate that the full-length EcR and DHR38 can also form specific complexes within the nuclei of living cells. This interaction is mediated by the hinge region of EcR, which was recently classified as an intrinsically disordered region. Our results indicate that DHR38 might modulate the activity of the Usp-EcR heterodimer by forming complexes with both of its components.

Ultraspiracle promotes the nuclear localization of ecdysteroid receptor in mammalian cells.

The heterodimer consisting of ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), both of which are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is considered to be the functional ecdysteroid receptor. Here we analyzed the subcellular distribution of EcR and USP fused to fluorescent proteins. The experiments were carried out in mammalian COS-7, CHO-K1 and HeLa cells to facilitate investigation of the subcellular trafficking of EcR and USP in the absence of endogenous expression of these two receptors. The distribution of USP tagged with a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP-USP) was almost exclusively nuclear in all cell types analyzed. The nuclear localization remained constant for at least 1 day after the first visible signs of expression. In contrast, the intracellular distribution of EcR tagged with a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP-EcR) varied and was dependent on time and cell type, although YFP-EcR alone was also able to partially translocate into the nuclear compartment. Coexpression of YFP-EcR with USP tagged with a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP-USP) resulted in exclusively nuclear localization of both proteins in all cell types analyzed. The USP-induced nuclear localization of YFP-EcR was stable for at least 20 hours. These experiments suggest that USP has a profound effect on the subcellular distribution of EcR.