[Thermodynamic parameters of stabilization in a compact form of the Caf1(13-149) subunit from Yersinia pestis].

With a number of experimental methods (circular dichroism, viscosity, intrinsic fluorescence and fluorescence labelling) the conformational folding-unfolding transitions in a compact monomeric form of the Caf1(13-149) subunit were studied under the action of guanidine hydrochloride in the temperature range from 5 to 45 degrees C. It has been shown that transitions always occur between two major states (unfolded and compact). It has made it possible to determine all main thermodynamic functions that characterize the compact state of the Caf1(13-149) subunit: temperature stability T(m), the free energy of stabilization deltaG(st), enthalpy deltaH(tr) and heat capacity jump deltaC collapse of the structure. Data obtained have been confirmed by an independent experiment on melting of fluorescently labeled proteins.

[Chimeric SHA-D domain ("SH3-Bergerac"): 3D-structure and dynamics studies in solution].

Protein SHA-D of "SH3-Bergerac" chimeric proteins family was constructed by substitution of beta-turn N47-D48 in spectrin SH3-domain by KATANDKTYE amino acid sequence. Structural and dynamics properties of SHA-D in solution were studied by with the help of high-resolution NMR. The extension of SHA-D polypeptide chain in comparison with wild type of protein WT-SH3 (~ 17%) practically doesn't affect almost the total molecule topology. 3D-structure of SHA-D is practically identical to the proteins of "SH3-Bergerac" family. However there are some differences in dynamic characteristics in the region of substitution. The G52D substitution in SHA-D protein results in a destabilization of the region insertion where the conditions for conformational exchange appear. Destabilization further affects the entire SHA- D molecule making its structure more labile.

[NMR structure and dynamics of the chimeric protein SH3-F2].

For the further elucidation of structural and dynamic principles of protein self-organization and protein-ligand interactions the design of new chimeric protein SH3-F2 was made and genetically engineered construct was created. The SH3-F2 amino acid sequence consists of polyproline ligand mgAPPLPPYSA, GG linker and the sequence of spectrin SH3 domain circular permutant S19-P20s. Structural and dynamics properties of the protein were studied by high-resolution NMR. According to NMR data the tertiary structure of the chimeric protein SH3-F2 has the topology which is typical of SH3 domains in the complex with the ligand, forming polyproline type II helix, located in the conservative region of binding in the orientation II. The polyproline ligand closely adjoins with the protein globule and is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions. However the interaction of ligand and the part of globule relative to SH3 domain is not too large because the analysis of protein dynamic characteristics points to the low amplitude, high-frequency ligand tumbling in relation to the slow intramolecular motions of the main globule. The constructed chimera permits to carry out further structural and thermodynamic investigations of polyproline helix properties and its interaction with regulatory domains.

[Study of the structure and dynamics of a chimeric variant of the SH3 domain (SHA-Bergerac) by NMR spectroscopy].

A structural-dynamic study of one of the chimeric proteins (SHA) belonging to the SH3-Bergerac family and containing the KATANGKTYE sequence instead of the N47D48 beta-turn in the spectrin SH3 domain was carried out by high resolution NMR spectroscopy. The spatial structure of the protein was determined and its dynamics in solution was investigated on the basis of the NMR data. The elongation of the SHA polypeptide chain in comparison with the WT-SH3 original protein (by ~17%) exerts practically no effect on the general topology of the molecule. The presence of a stable beta-hairpin in the region of insertion was confirmed. This hairpin was shown to have a higher mobility in comparison with other regions of the protein.

[Studies of interactions of carbonic anhydrase B with water and urea: II. Spin diffusion of associates of protein intermediate state at 4.2 M of urea].

The formation of carbonic anhydrase B associates (pH 5.7, urea concentration 4.2 M, 297 K) was studied as a function of protein concentration and time by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (spin diffusion method). It was found that the association process proceeds in two steps. The first step is relatively fast and cannot be controlled by our methods. During this step, persistent units are built. These consist of protein molecules that are able to interact with solvent molecules and with each other when protein solution contains 4.2 M of urea. Persistent units are relatively small (two, three protein molecules), and their mobility matches one of a single protein. The second step is slower, and throughout this step large structures are formed from persistent units. The parameters G* and S*, which characterize spin diffusion in a protein and a solvent, respectively (when spin diffusion excitation happens away from NMR spectral signals) are related to the probable size distribution of protein-solvent associates and are determined by their collective properties.

[A study of interactions of carbonic anhydrase B with water and urea. I. Spin-diffusion parameters that determine individual and cooperative properties of molecules].

The rigidity parameter (G), which is characteristic of protein compactness, was studied in native globular carbonic anhydrase B. The dependence of parameter G on power and excitation time of spin-diffusion was expressed analytically. We found out that native carbonic anhydrase B is able to form water-protein units that are probabilistically distributed with respect to their sizes. Large water-protein units can be detected by analyzing the spin-diffusion spectra. The excitation frequencies of spin-diffusion spectra were shifted far away from typical 1H NMR spectra of carbonic anhydrase B.

[Carbonic anhydrase B interactions with water and urea].

Carbonic anhydrase B unfolding with urea (pH 5.7, T = 298 K) was studied by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. The effectiveness of spin-diffusion influencing compactness of the protein molecule can be described with the rigidity parameter G. Parameter G displays sigma-like characteristic behavior when concentration increases. The ratio between integral intensities of urea and protein signals in spin-diffusion and normal 1D spectra are the same. This suggests that there is no predominant urea-protein molecular interaction. The concentration of large protein-solvent associates increases rapidly at urea levels of 4.2-6.2 M implying that protein molecule shifts to a molten globule state. Protein-solvent associates are dissipating with urea concentration increase to above 6.6 M when carbonic anhydrase B polypeptide chain is completely unfolded.

[Spin diffusion in globular proteins: alpha-lactalbumin]. / Spinovaia diffuziia v globuliarnykh belkakh: al'fa-laktal'bumin.

The structural properties of globular proteins analyzed by two different methods: high-resolution NMR and circular dichroism were compared. We established that the spin diffusion method shows changes in the secondary structure during the unfolding of the alpha-lactalbumin molten globule by urea. It was shown that the spin diffusion method is extremely effective in studies of interactions of water and denaturant molecules with the protein both in the native and the molten globule states.

[Guanidine hydrochloride mediated unfolding of a carbonic anhydrase molten globule]. / Razvorachivanie rasplavlennoi globuly karboangidrazy guanidingidrokhloridom.

Guanidine hydrochloride-induced unfolding of a carbonic anhydrase molten globule was studied by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. The study resulted in estimation of the number of water and denaturant molecules bound to the molten globule at various denaturant concentrations in solution. When compared with the data on unfolding of native carbonic anhydrase, these estimates indicate that the unfolding is underlain by an increased local concentration of the denaturant near the protein molecule, which results from the increased ratio between guanidine hydrochloride-bound and protein-bound waters.

[Partially unfolded state of lysozyme with a developed secondary structure in dimethylsulfoxide]. / Chastichno razvernutoe sostoianie lizotsima s razvitoi vtorichnoi strukturoi v dimetilsul'fokside.

The conformation of a chicken egg lysozyme molecule (dimensions, stoichiometry of its associates, and the degree of helicity) in DMSO was studied by small-angle neutron scattering, dynamic light scattering, and optical rotatory dispersion in the visible region of the spectrum. At high DMSO concentrations (70%), the protein was shown to exist as a dimer. The monomer molecules in the dimer adopt a partially unfolded conformation, with dimensions substantially greater than those in the native state and a high content of secondary structure (the degree of helicity is close to that of native lysozyme). This approach provides a unique possibility to assess the compactness of molecules in associates, which may be very useful in studying protein self-organization.