Structural and functional similarity between Yersinia pestis capsular protein Caf1 and human interleukin-1 beta.

A comparative study of the structural and functional properties of recombinant Yersinia pestis Caf1 and human IL-1beta was performed. According to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) data, IL-1beta and Caf1 are typical beta-structural proteins. Neither protein interacts with the hydrophobic probe ANS (8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate) under physiological conditions. Specific binding of Caf1 [K(d) = (5.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-10) M] to interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1Rs) on the surface of finite mouse fibroblasts (line NIH 3T3) was observed. Caf1 is able to inhibit high-affinity binding of (125)I-labeled IL-1beta to NIH 3T3 cells, and in the presence of Caf1, the binding of [(125)I]IL-1beta is characterized by a K(d) of (2.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(-9) M. Caf1 binding to IL-1R could reflect adhesive properties of the capsular subunits responsible for the contact of bacteria with the host immunocompetent cells. In its turn, this may represent a signal for the initiation of the expression and secretion of the proteins of Y. pestis Yop virulon. Thus, these results help to explain the importance of Caf1 in the interaction of Y. pestis with the host immune system.

Zn(2+)-mediated structure formation and compaction of the "natively unfolded" human prothymosin alpha.

Human recombinant prothymosin alpha (ProTalpha) is known to have coil-like conformation at neutral pH; i.e., it belongs to the class of "natively unfolded" proteins. By means of circular dichroism, SAXS, and ANS fluorescence, we have investigated the effect of several divalent cations on the structure of this protein. Results of these studies are consistent with the conclusion that ProTalpha conformation is unaffected by large excess of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Cu(2+), and Ni(2+). However, Zn(2+) induces compaction and considerable rearrangement of the protein structure. This means that ProTalpha can specifically interact with Zn(2+) (K(D) approximately 10(-3) M), and such interactions induce folding of the natively unfolded protein into a compact partially folded (premolten globule-like) conformation. It is possible that these structural changes may be important for the function of this protein.

Natively unfolded human prothymosin alpha adopts partially folded collapsed conformation at acidic pH.

Prothymosin alpha has previously been shown to be unfolded at neutral pH, thus belonging to a growing family of "natively unfolded" proteins. The structural properties and conformational stability of recombinant human prothymosin alpha were characterized at neutral and acidic pH by gel filtration, SAXS, circular dichroism, ANS fluorescence, (1)H NMR, and resistance to urea-induced unfolding. Interestingly, prothymosin alpha underwent a cooperative transition from the unfolded state into a partially folded conformation on lowering the pH. This conformation of prothymosin alpha is a compact denatured state, with structural properties different from those of the molten globule. The formation of alpha-helical structure by the glutamic acid-rich elements of the protein accompanied by the partial hydrophobic collapse is expected at lower pH due to the neutralization of the negatively charged residues. It is possible that such conformational changes may be associated with the protein function.

Structural and functional significance of the FGL sequence of the periplasmic chaperone Caf1M of Yersinia pestis.

The periplasmic molecular chaperone Caf1M of Yersinia pestis is a typical representative of a subfamily of specific chaperones involved in assembly of surface adhesins with a very simple structure. One characteristic feature of this Caf1M-like subfamily is possession of an extended, variable sequence (termed FGL) between the F1 and subunit binding G1 beta-strands. In contrast, FGS subfamily members, characterized by PapD, have a short F1-G1 loop and are involved in assembly of complex pili. To elucidate the structural and functional significance of the FGL sequence, a mutant Caf1M molecule (dCaf1M), in which the 27 amino acid residues between the F1 and G1 beta-strands had been deleted, was constructed. Expression of the mutated caf1M in Escherichia coli resulted in accumulation of high levels of dCaf1M. The far-UV circular dichroism spectra of the mutant and wild-type proteins were indistinguishable and exhibited practically the same temperature and pH dependencies. Thus, the FGL sequence of Caf1M clearly does not contribute significantly to the stability of the protein conformation. Preferential cleavage of Caf1M by trypsin at Lys-119 confirmed surface exposure of this part of the FGL sequence in the isolated chaperone and periplasmic chaperone-subunit complex. There was no evidence of surface-localized Caf1 subunit in the presence of the Caf1A outer membrane protein and dCaf1M. In contrast to Caf1M, dCaf1M was not able to form a stable complex with Caf1 nor could it protect the subunit from proteolytic degradation in vivo. This demonstration that the FGL sequence is required for stable chaperone-subunit interaction, but not for folding of a stable chaperone, provides a sound basis for future detailed molecular analyses of the FGL subfamily of chaperones.

Investigation of the cooperative structure of Fc fragments from myeloma immunoglobulin G.

The cooperative structure of Fc fragments prepared from myeloma human IgG1 was studied using scanning microcalorimetry and fluorescence at pH 4.2-8.0. It was shown that the first to be melted are CH2 domains whose interaction with each other is rather weak, while that with CH3 domains is strong. Then CH3 domains which form a single cooperative block are melted. The data for the structure of the Fc fragment in solution agree with the X-ray data according to which the interaction between CH2 domains is mediated by the carbohydrate moiety while the two CH3 domains are strongly associated. The presence of intensive CH2-CH3 interaction is a distinctive feature of the state of the Fc fragment in the given pH region as compared to that at pH <4.1 [Tischenko, V. M., et al. (1982) Eur. J. Biochem. 126, 517-521; Ryazantsev, S., et al. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 190, 393-399]. First, cis interactions greatly increase the free energy of the native structure stabilization in CH2 domains. Second, they decrease this energy for CH3 domains when compared to the state of the latter at pH 3.8 or within the Fc' fragment (the dimer of CH3 domains). The temperature and enthalpy of melting of CH2 domains coincide in all the samples studied despite heterogeneity of the carbohydrate moiety. Thus, it may be postulated that the conservative part of CH2 domains makes a cardinal contribution to the interaction of these domains with the carbohydrate moiety.

Influence of the conserved disulphide bond, exposed to the putative binding pocket, on the structure and function of the immunoglobulin-like molecular chaperone Caf1M of Yersinia pestis.

The Yersinia pestis protein Caf1M is a typical representative of a subfamily of periplasmic molecular chaperones with characteristic structural and functional features, one of which is the location of two conserved cysteine residues close to the putative binding pocket. We show that these residues form a disulphide bond, the reduction and alkylation of which significantly increases the dissociation constant of the Caf1M-Caf1 (where Caf 1 is a polypeptide subunit of the capsule) complex [from a Kd of (4.77+/-0.50)x10(-9) M for the intact protein to one of (3.68+/-0.68)x10(-8) M for the modified protein]. The importance of the disulphide bond for the formation of functional Caf1M in vivo was demonstrated using an Escherichia coli dsbA mutant carrying the Y. pestis f1 operon. In accordance with the CD and fluorescence measurements, the disulphide bond is not important for maintenance of the overall structure of the Caf1M molecule, but would appear to affect the fine structural properties of the subunit binding site. A three-dimensional model of the Caf1M-Caf1 complex was designed based on the published crystal structure of PapD (a chaperone required for Pap pili assembly) complexed with a peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of the papG subunit. In the model the disulphide bond is in close proximity to the invariant Caf1M Arg-23 and Lys-142 residues that are assumed to anchor the C-terminal group of the subunit. The importance of this characteristic disulphide bond for the orchestration of the binding site and subunit binding, as well as for the folding of the protein in vivo, is likely to be a common feature of this subfamily of Caf1M-like chaperones. A possible model for the role of the disulphide bond in Caf1 assembly is discussed.

[1H-NMR studies of the ACTH-like immunoregulatory peptides]. / 1H-IaMR-issledovanie AKTG-podobhykh immunoreguliatornykh peptidov.

A comparative study of the conformational and dynamics properties of the ACTH-like linear peptides, sequences of which correspond to amino acid residues 11-20 of the heavy chain of human immunoglobulin G1 Eu, residues 78-85 of human pro-interleukin-1 alpha and site 10-18 of human ACTH, was performed in aqueous solution and dimethylsulfoxide by 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 400 MHz. The peptides were shown to possess an unordered unfolded flexible conformation in aqueous solution. The revealed structural and dynamic features of the peptides are discussed together with biological activity of this class of compounds.

pH6 antigen (PsaA protein) of Yersinia pestis, a novel bacterial Fc-receptor.

It was found that recombinant pH6 antigen (rPsaA protein) forming virulence-associated fimbriae on the surface of Yersinia pestis at pH 6.7 in host macrophage phagolysosomes or extracellularly in abscesses such as buboes, is a novel bacterial Fc-receptor. rPsaA protein displays reactivity with human IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses but does not react with rabbit, mouse and sheep IgG.

Receptor-binding properties of the peptides corresponding to the beta-endorphin-like sequence of human immunoglobulin G.

The decapeptide H2N-Ser-Leu-Thr-Cys-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-COOH (termed immunorphin) corresponding to the sequence 364-373 of the CH3 domain of the human immunoglobulin G1 Eu heavy chain and displaying a 43% identity with the antigenic determinant of beta-endorphin was synthesized. Immunorphin was found to compete with 125I-beta-endorphin for high-affinity receptors on murine peritoneal macrophages (K = 2.5 +/- 0.9 x 10(-9) M) and with 3H-morphin for receptors on murine thymocytes (Ki = 2.7 +/- 0.6 x 10(-9) M) and murine macrophages (Ki = 5.9 +/- 0.7 x 10(-9) M). In particular two types of receptors to 125I-beta-endorphin with Kd1 = 6.1 +/- 0.6 x 10(-9) M and Kd2 = 3.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(-8) M were revealed on macrophages. The second type of receptors interacted with 125I-beta-endorphin, 3H-Met-enkephalin, 3H-Leu-enkephalin and 3H-morphin; the first displayed reactivity with 125I-beta-endorphin, 3H-morphin and immunorphin. The first type receptors are not present on murine brain cells nor are inhibited by naloxone. A minimum fragment of immunorphin practically completely retaining its inhibitory activity in the competition tests with 125I-beta-endorphin for common receptors on thymocytes was found to correspond to the tetrapeptide H2N-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr-COOH (Ki = 5.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(-9) M).

[Effect of the topography of the signal peptidase site on the effectiveness of secretion of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor into Escherichia coli periplasm]. / Vliianie topografii saita signal'noi peptidazy na éffektivnost' sekretsii v periplazmu Escherichia coli rekombinantnogo granulotsitarno-makrofagal'nogo koloniestimuliruiushchego faktora cheloveka.

Synthesis of an artificial gene encoding the signal peptide of the Yersinia pestis capsule antigen (Caf1) was accomplished. A set of plasmids coding for hybrid proteins in which a modified sequence of the Caf1 signal peptide is connected to the amino acid sequence of the mature granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were constructed. Topography of the cleavage site of signal proteases was studied. The presence of an arginine residue within the N-terminal part of the mature human GM-CSF was shown to hinder the proper processing and translocation of the precursor through periplasmic membrane. A number of E. coli strains secreting biologically active mutants of human GM-CSF were obtained.

Overproduction in Escherichia coli, purification and properties of human prothymosin alpha.

A bacterial strain overproducing human prothymosin alpha was constructed based on the efficient T7 RNA polymerase transcription of human prothymosin alpha cDNA. The highest yield of the human prothymosin alpha, up to 30% of the total bacterial protein, was achieved with constructions containing 6-10 nucleotides between the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and initiation ATG codon. Unexpectedly, cells grown in the presence of inducer of T7 RNA polymerase synthesis produced substantially lower levels of prothymosin alpha than those grown in the absence of inducer. A simple procedure for prothymosin alpha isolation was elaborated, resulting in large amounts of electrophoretically pure and immunoactive protein.

Specific high affinity binding of human interleukin 1 beta by Caf1A usher protein of Yersinia pestis.

Understanding the interaction of Yersinia pestis with the key components of the immune system is important for elucidation of the pathogenesis of bubonic plague, one of the most severe and acute bacterial diseases. Here we report the specific, high affinity binding (Kd = 1.40 x 10(-10) M +/- 0.14 x 10(-10)) of radiolabelled human interleukin 1 beta (hIL-1 beta) to E. coli cells carrying the capsular f1 operon of Y. pestis. Caf1A outer membrane usher protein was isolated to greater than 98% purity. Competition studies with purified Caf1A, together with immunoblotting studies, identified Caf1A as the hIL-1 beta receptor. Competition between Caf1 subunit and hIL-1 beta for the same or an overlapping binding site on Caf1A was demonstrated. Relevance of these results to the pathogenesis of Y. pestis and other Gram negative bacterial pathogens with homologous outer membrane usher proteins is discussed.

Receptor-binding properties of the peptides corresponding to the ACTH-like sequence of human pro-interleukin-1 alpha.

The octapeptide Gly-Lys-Val-Leu-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg (termed leukocorticotropin, LCT) corresponding to the ACTH-like sequence 81-88 of human pro-interleukin-1 alpha and its derivative Tyr-Gly-Lys-Val-Leu-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg were synthesized. The 125I-labeled Tyr-LCT specifically interacts with one type of receptor on the surface of murine splenocytes (Kd = (1.45 +/- 0.04) x 10(-8) M, the number of binding sites is equal to 4500) and with two types of receptors on the surface of murine peritoneal macrophages (Kd1 = (5.9 +/- 1.0) x 10(-9) M and Kd2 = (2.6 +/- 2.2) x 10(-7) M). LCT and Tyr-LCT significantly increase the adenylate cyclase activity of murine peritoneal macrophages. The receptor binding and adenylate cyclase stimulation activity of LCT and Tyr-LCT are inhibited by ACTH (13-24).

The sequence 130-137 of human interferon-alpha 2 is involved in the competition of interferon, prothymosin alpha and cholera toxin B subunit for common receptors on human fibroblasts.

125I-labelled recombinant human interferon alpha 2 (rHuIFN-alpha 2) capable of high-affinity binding (Kd = 2.46 +/- 0.18 x 10(-10) M) with receptors expressed on mouse thymocytes was obtained. Prothymosin alpha (proTM-alpha) but not cholera toxin was found to compete with radiolabelled IFN-alpha 2 for binding to the same receptor (Ki = 3.68 +/- 0.21 x 10(-11) M). The synthetic peptide covering the sequence 130-137 of IFN-alpha 2 (authors' definition: alpha-peptoferon) was shown to have the capacity to displace the labelled IFN-alpha 2 from the IFN-alpha 2/receptor complex (Ki = 7.19 +/- 0.12 x 10(-11) M). It was shown that receptors of this type are localized in plasmatic membrane fraction. Using [125I]-alpha-peptoferon, specific and saturable binding was detected on human fibroblasts and the data fitted a single binding site. Scatchard analysis yielded a Kd of 9.63 +/- 0.17 x 10(-8) M. The binding was competitively inhibited by IFN-alpha 2 (the Ki value in competition assays was 1.37 +/- 0.12 x 10(-8) M), proTM-alpha(Ki = 2.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(-7) M) and cholera toxin B subunit (Ki = 5.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(-7)). The present study has demonstrated that the sequence 130-137 of HuIFN-alpha 2 is involved in the competition of HuIFN-alpha 2, proTM-alpha and cholera toxin B subunit for common receptors on human fibroblasts.

Synthesis and properties of the peptide corresponding to the ACTH-like sequence of human immunoglobulin G1.

The decapeptide Val-Lys-Lys-Pro-Gly--Ser-Ser-Val-Lys-Val (termed immunocorticotropin) corresponding to the sequence 11-20 of the variable part of the human immunoglobulin G1 heavy chain was synthesized. The ACTH-like peptide was found to have an ability to increase body temperature. Intracerebroventricular injection of 5-10 micrograms of the peptide to rabbits induced an elevation of body temperature by 0.7-1.3 degrees C. The ACTH-like peptide was shown to compete with [125I]-ACTH (13-24) for binding to receptors on murine brain synaptic membranes and to activate adenylate cyclase of these membranes.

Protein V, a novel type-II IgG receptor from Streptococcus sp.: sequence, homologies and putative Fc-binding site.

We have cloned and sequenced the Fc-receptor-encoding gene, fcrV, from a group G streptococcus. Considerable similarity was revealed between the FcRV, FcRA76 and M proteins of group A streptococci in their signal sequences and 3' termini, and between the Fc-binding regions of FcRV and FcRA76. The promoter and terminator regions showed no homology with those of the fcrA76 and M protein-encoding genes. The A1-A4 domains of FcrV (protein V) exhibit a heptapeptide repeat motif which is characteristic of alpha-helical coiled-coil proteins. The sequence, Ser-Asn-Arg-Ala-Ala, in the outer position, 'f' of each domain is highly conserved and may be involved in FcR-IgG interactions.