M. leprae HSP18 suppresses copper (II) mediated ROS generation: Effect of redox stress on its structure and function.

Mycobacterium leprae, causative organism of leprosy, is known to counter redox stress generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) during its survival inside host macrophages. But, the involvement of any antigenic protein(s) for countering such redox stress is still unknown. Interestingly, M. leprae HSP18, an important antigenic protein that helps in the growth and survival of M. leprae pathogen inside host macrophages, is induced under redox stress. Moreover, HSP18 also interacts with Cu2+. Copper (II) can induce redox stress via Fenton reaction. But, whether HSP18 suppresses Cu2+ mediated ROS generation, is still far from clear. Also, the effect of redox stress on its structure and function is not known. In this study, we show that HSP18 efficiently suppresses Cu2+ mediated generation of ROS and also prevents the redox mediated aggregation of a client protein (γD-crystallin). Upon exposure to substantial redox stress, irreversible perturbation in the secondary and tertiary structure of HSP18 and the tryptophan and tyrosine oxidation are evidenced. Interestingly, HSP18 retains a considerable amount of functionality even after being exposed to substantial redox stress. Perhaps, the redox scavenging ability as well as the chaperone function of HSP18 may possibly help M. leprae pathogen to counter redox stress inside host macrophages.

The impact of different mutations at arginine141 on the structure, subunit exchange dynamics and chaperone activity of Hsp16.3.

Hsp16.3, a molecular chaperone, plays a vital role in the growth and survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis inside the host. We previously reported that deletion of three amino acid residues (142 STN144 ) from C-terminal extension (CTE) of Hsp16.3 triggers its structural perturbation and increases its chaperone activity, which reaches its apex upon the deletion of its entire CTE (141 RSTN144 ). Thus, we hypothesized that Arg141 (R141) and Ser142 (S142) in the CTE of Hsp16.3 possibly hold the key in maintaining its native-like structure and chaperone activity. To test this hypothesis, we generated two deletion mutants in which R141 and S142 were deleted individually (Hsp16.3ΔR141 and Hsp16.3ΔS142) and three substitution mutants in which R141 was replaced by lysine (Hsp16.3R141K), alanine (Hsp16.3R141A), and glutamic acid (Hsp16.3R141E), respectively. Hsp16.3ΔS142 or Hsp16.3R141K mutant has native-like structure and chaperone activity. Deletion of R141 from the CTE (Hsp16.3ΔR141) perturbs the secondary and tertiary structure, lowers the subunit exchange dynamics and decreases the chaperone activity of Hsp16.3. But, the substitution of R141 with alanine (Hsp16.3R141A) or glutamic acid (Hsp16.3R141E) perturbs its secondary and tertiary structure. Surprisingly, such charge tampering of R141 enhances the subunit exchange dynamics and chaperone activity of Hsp16.3. Interestingly, neither the deletion of R141/S142 nor the substitution of R141 with lysine, alanine and glutamic acid affects the oligomeric mass/size of Hsp16.3. Overall, our study suggests that R141 (especially the positive charge on R141) plays a crucial role in maintaining the native-like structure as well as in regulating subunit exchange dynamics and chaperone activity of Hsp16.3.

Evidences for zinc (II) and copper (II) ion interactions with Mycobacterium leprae HSP18: Effect on its structure and chaperone function.

Mycobacterium leprae uptakes various bivalent metal ions via different transporters in host species. Uptake of Cu2+ and Zn2+ are essential for generation of superoxide dismutases and catalases, which provide defense against reactive oxygen species mediated death of this pathogen in macrophages. Furthermore, it has also been noticed that levels of different bivalent metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) in blood serum are altered in leprotic patients. Mycobacterium leprae HSP18 is an immunodominant antigen which helps in growth and survival of Mycobacterium leprae in host species. A possible link can exist between HSP18 and aberration of bivalent metal ion homeostasis. Therefore, we investigated the interaction of these four bivalent metal ions with HSP18 and found that the protein only interacts with Zn2+ and Cu2+. Such association process is reversible and moderately high affinity in nature with unit binding stoichiometry. Theoretical studies revealed that the most probable site for Zn2+-binding lies in the N-terminal domain; While, the same for Cu2+-binding lies in the "α-crystallin domain" of HSP18. Binding of Zn2+/Cu2+ to HSP18 brings about subtle changes in the secondary and tertiary structure of HSP18 but are distinctly opposite in nature. While Zn2+ causes oligomeric association, Cu2+ leads to oligomeric dissociation of HSP18. Structural stability, surface hydrophobicity and chaperone activity of HSP18 are enhanced on Zn2+ binding, while all of them are reduced upon Cu2+ binding. Altogether, metal ions binding to HSP18 regulate its function which may have far reaching effect on the survival and pathogenicity of Mycobacterium leprae in host species.

Probing the structure-function relationship of Mycobacterium leprae HSP18 under different UV radiations.

Ultraviolet radiation, an effective sterilizing source, rapidly kills the causative organism (Mycobacterium leprae) of leprosy. But, the reasons behind this quick death are not clearly understood. Also, the impact of UV radiation on the antigen(s) which is/are responsible for the survival of this pathogen is still unknown. Many reports have revealed that M. leprae secrets a major immunodominant antigen, namely HSP18, whose chaperone function plays an important role in the growth and survival of this pathogen under various environmental insults. However, the effect of UV radiation on its structure and chaperone function is still unclear. Therefore, we have taken a thorough attempt to understand these two aspects of HSP18 under different UV radiations (UVA/UVB/UVC; doses: 1-50 J/cm2). Our study revealed that its chaperone function is decreased significantly with increasing doses of various UV radiations. These different UV irradiations perturb only its tertiary structure and induce tryptophan and tyrosine photo-oxidation to N-formyl kynurenine, kynurenine and dityrosine. Such photo-oxidation promotes the subunit cross-linking within a HSP18 oligomer, lowers the surface hydrophobicity and thermostability of the protein. All these factors together damage/reduce the chaperone function of HSP18 which may be an important factor behind the rapid death of M. leprae under UV exposure.

The C-terminal extension of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Hsp16.3 regulates its oligomerization, subunit exchange dynamics and chaperone function.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a human pathogen that secretes a major immunodominant antigen, namely Hsp16.3, throughout the course of infection. Hsp16.3 belongs to the small heat shock protein family and exhibits a molecular chaperone function that is important for the growth and survival of M. tuberculosis in host cell macrophages. The importance of the N-terminal region for the structure and chaperone function of Hsp16.3 is well understood. However, the effect of the C-terminal region on these properties is far from clear. Therefore, we cloned, over-expressed and purified wild-type and seven C-terminal-truncated mutant proteins of Hsp16.3. Mutants with deletions of one and two C-terminal extension (CTE) residues had a structure and chaperone function similar to wild-type protein. Intriguingly, deletion of three residues from the CTE triggered perturbation of the tertiary structure, dissociation of the oligomeric assembly (dodecamer to octamer and dimer), enhancement of subunit exchange dynamics and improvement in the chaperone function of Hsp16.3. Interestingly, these structural modulations (except oligomeric dissociation) as well as chaperoning strength reached their apex upon truncation of the entire CTE (141 RSTN144 ). Further deletions from the C-terminal region beyond the CTE increased only the degree of oligomeric dissociation, and the complete removal of this region made the protein into a dimer. Overall, our study suggests a 'new structural element' in the C-terminal region, i.e. the C-terminal extension, which plays an important role in the oligomerization, subunit exchange dynamics and chaperone function of Hsp16.3.

Differential role of arginine mutations on the structure and functions of α-crystallin.

BACKGROUND: α-Crystallin is a major protein of the eye lens in vertebrates. It is composed of two subunits, αA- and αB-crystallin. α-Crystallin is an oligomeric protein having these two subunits in 3:1 ratio. It belongs to small heat shock protein family and exhibits molecular chaperone function, which plays an important role in maintaining the lens transparency. Apart from chaperone function, both subunits also exhibit anti-apoptotic property. Comparison of their primary sequences reveals that αA- and αB-crystallin posses 13 and 14 arginine residues, respectively. Several of them undergo mutations which eventually lead to various eye diseases such as congenital cataract, juvenile cataract, and retinal degeneration. Interestingly, many arginine residues of these subunits are modified during glycation and even some are truncated during aging. All these facts indicate the importance of arginine residues in α-crystallin. SCOPE OF REVIEW: In this review, we will emphasize the recent in vitro and in vivo findings related to congenital cataract causing arginine mutations in α-crystallin. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Congenital cataract causing arginine mutations alters the structure and decreases the chaperone function of α-crystallin. These mutations also affect the lens morphology and phenotypes. Interestingly, non-natural arginine mutations (generated for mimicking the glycation and truncation environment) improve the chaperone function of α-crystallin which may play an important role in maintaining the eye lens transparency during aging. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The neutralization of positive charge on the guanidino group of arginine residues is not always detrimental to the functionality of α-crystallin. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Crystallin Biochemistry in Health and Disease.

Role of Subunit Exchange and Electrostatic Interactions on the Chaperone Activity of Mycobacterium leprae HSP18.

Mycobacterium leprae HSP18, a major immunodominant antigen of M. leprae pathogen, is a small heat shock protein. Previously, we reported that HSP18 is a molecular chaperone that prevents aggregation of different chemically and thermally stressed client proteins and assists refolding of denatured enzyme at normal temperature. We also demonstrated that it can efficiently prevent the thermal killing of E. coli at higher temperature. However, molecular mechanism behind the chaperone function of HSP18 is still unclear. Therefore, we studied the structure and chaperone function of HSP18 at normal temperature (25°C) as well as at higher temperatures (31-43°C). Our study revealed that the chaperone function of HSP18 is enhanced significantly with increasing temperature. Far- and near-UV CD experiments suggested that its secondary and tertiary structure remain intact in this temperature range (25-43°C). Besides, temperature has no effect on the static oligomeric size of this protein. Subunit exchange study demonstrated that subunits of HSP18 exchange at 25°C with a rate constant of 0.018 min(-1). Both rate of subunit exchange and chaperone activity of HSP18 is found to increase with rise in temperature. However, the surface hydrophobicity of HSP18 decreases markedly upon heating and has no correlation with its chaperone function in this temperature range. Furthermore, we observed that HSP18 exhibits diminished chaperone function in the presence of NaCl at 25°C. At elevated temperatures, weakening of interactions between HSP18 and stressed client proteins in the presence of NaCl results in greater reduction of its chaperone function. The oligomeric size, rate of subunit exchange and structural stability of HSP18 were also found to decrease when electrostatic interactions were weakened. These results clearly indicated that subunit exchange and electrostatic interactions play a major role in the chaperone function of HSP18.

Interaction of ATP with a small heat shock protein from Mycobacterium leprae: effect on its structure and function.

Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is an important phosphate metabolite abundantly found in Mycobacterium leprae bacilli. This pathogen does not derive ATP from its host but has its own mechanism for the generation of ATP. Interestingly, this molecule as well as several antigenic proteins act as bio-markers for the detection of leprosy. One such bio-marker is the 18 kDa antigen. This 18 kDa antigen is a small heat shock protein (HSP18) whose molecular chaperone function is believed to help in the growth and survival of the pathogen. But, no evidences of interaction of ATP with HSP18 and its effect on the structure and chaperone function of HSP18 are available in the literature. Here, we report for the first time evidences of "HSP18-ATP" interaction and its consequences on the structure and chaperone function of HSP18. TNP-ATP binding experiment and surface plasmon resonance measurement showed that HSP18 interacts with ATP with a sub-micromolar binding affinity. Comparative sequence alignment between M. leprae HSP18 and αB-crystallin identified the sequence 49KADSLDIDIE58 of HSP18 as the Walker-B ATP binding motif. Molecular docking studies revealed that ß4-ß8 groove/strands as an ATP interactive region in M. leprae HSP18. ATP perturbs the tertiary structure of HSP18 mildly and makes it less susceptible towards tryptic cleavage. ATP triggers exposure of additional hydrophobic patches at the surface of HSP18 and induces more stability against chemical and thermal denaturation. In vitro aggregation and thermal inactivation assays clearly revealed that ATP enhances the chaperone function of HSP18. Our studies also revealed that the alteration in the chaperone function of HSP18 is reversible and is independent of ATP hydrolysis. As the availability and binding of ATP to HSP18 regulates its chaperone function, this functional inflection may play an important role in the survival of M. leprae in hosts.