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C Ho

Publications and source records attributed to C Ho.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Novel water-mediated hydrogen bonds as the structural basis for the low oxygen affinity of the blood substitute candidate rHb(alpha 96Val-->Trp).

One of the most promising approaches for the development of a synthetic blood substitute has been the engineering of novel mutants of human hemoglobin (Hb) A which maintain cooperativity, but possess lowered oxygen affinity. We describe here two crystal structures of one such potential blood substitute, recombinant (r) Hb(alpha 96Val-->Trp), refined to 1.9 A resolution in an alpha-aquomet, beta-deoxy T-state, and to 2.5 A resolution in a carbonmonoxy R-state. On the basis of molecular dynamics simulations, a particular conformation had been predicted for the engineered Trp residue, and the lowered oxygen affinity had been attributed to a stabilization of the deoxy T-state interface by alpha 96Trp-beta 99Asp hydrogen bonds. Difference Fourier maps of the T-state structure clearly show that alpha 96Trp is in a conformation different from that predicted by the simulation, with its indole side chain directed away from the interface and into the central cavity. In this conformation, the indole nitrogen makes novel water-mediated hydrogen bonds across the T-state interface with beta 101Glu. We propose that these water-mediated hydrogen bonds are the structural basis for the lowered oxygen affinity of rHb(alpha 96Val-->Trp), and discuss the implications of these findings for future molecular dynamics studies and the design of Hb mutants.

Blood Substitutes↗

Lack of correlation between Lewis antigen expression by Helicobacter pylori and gastric epithelial cells in infected patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Lewis antigens are expressed by both human gastric epithelial tissue and Helicobacter pylori. We examined Lewis antigens expressed by gastric epithelium and by H. pylori isolated from the corresponding biopsy tissue. METHODS: H. pylori Lewis expression was determined by enzyme immunoassays, and immunoelectron microscopy was used to confirm the Lewis antigens on some H. pylori cells and in some biopsy specimens. Histopathology using identical monoclonal antibodies specific for Lewis A, B, X, and Y antigens was used to detect these antigens in 24 gastric biopsy specimens. RESULTS: We identified Lewis Y in 100%, Lewis X and Lewis B in 95.8%, and Lewis A in 87.5% of biopsy specimens. In H. pylori, 87.5% expressed Lewis Y, 79.2% Lewis X, and 4.2% (one strain) Lewis B. No Lewis A was detected. Antibody specific for Lewis X labeled the bacteria and associated adhesion pedestal. The cagA gene was present in 92% of strains. CONCLUSIONS: There was no direct relationship between Lewis antigen expression by H. pylori and gastric epithelial cells in infected patients. Expression of Lewis X and Lewis Y by H. pylori suggests the possibility of their requirement for establishment and/or maintenance of infection. An immunoelectron micrograph of H. pylori interaction with the gastric epithelial adhesion pedestal suggests a tentative role for Lewis X in the adhesion process.

Adolescent↗

Perfusion quantitation in transplanted rat kidney by MRI with arterial spin labeling.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with non-invasive arterial spin labeling to assess perfusion of transplanted kidneys in rats. MRI studies were performed on five groups of rats: normal Fisher 344 rats, Fisher 344 rats that had received a syngeneic kidney transplant either 3 or seven days prior to study, and Fisher 344 rats that had received an allogeneic kidney (ACI rat as the donor) either three or seven days prior to study. The contralateral native kidney remained in place for comparison. Cortical perfusion was quantitated from a slice through the center of each kidney in anesthetized rats at 4.7 Tesla with a fast gradient-echo MRI sequence following the arterial spin labeling. The spin-lattice relaxation time was measured within the cortex, and the cross sectional area of the kidney was also determined within the same MRI plane. Immediately after the perfusion imaging measurement, transplanted kidneys were removed and scored for rejection using the Banff histological criteria. Renal cortical perfusion in normal kidneys was 7.5 +/- 0.8 ml/g/min (N = 12 rats, 24 kidneys). At the third day post-transplantation, that is, before marked acute rejection, the renal cortical perfusion rate was similar in both syngeneic and allogeneic kidneys [3.3 +/- 1.7 (N = 6) and 3.0 +/- 2.4 ml/g/min (N = 6), respectively]. In contrast, at the seventh day post-transplantation, that is, during severe rejection, the renal cortical perfusion rate in allogeneic kidneys was very low (undetectable) compared to the value in syngeneic kidneys [that is, < or = 0.3 (N = 6) versus 5.2 +/- 2.0 ml/g/min (N = 6), respectively]. Moreover, the renal cortical perfusion rate determined by MRI was significantly (P < 0.05, r = -0.82) correlated with histological rejection. We conclude that the quantitative measurement of renal cortical perfusion by MRI with arterial spin-labeling could provide a non-invasive diagnostic method for monitoring the status of renal transplants without requiring the administration of a contrast agent.

Acute Disease↗

Desacetylmatricarin, an anti-allergic component from Taraxacum platycarpum.

The bioassay-guided fractionation of Taraxacum platycarpum (Compositae) extract led to the isolation of a desacetylmatricarin (1) as an active principle responsible for the anti-allergic property. It showed a potent inhibitory activity upon the beta-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells in a dose-dependent manner and the IC50 was 7.5 microM. Two structurally related guaianolide sesquiterpenes, achillin and leucodin, were also examined and their IC50 values were determined as 100 microM and 80 microM, respectively.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Characterization of the lipid-carrier involved in the synthesis of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) and identification of a novel phosphoglyceride in a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium defective in ECA synthesis.

The polysaccharide chains of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) consist of linear trisaccharide repeat units with the structure -->3)-alpha-d-Fuc4NAc-(1-->4)-beta-d-ManNAcA-(1--> 4)-alpha-d-GlcNAc-(1-->, where Fuc4NAc is 4-acetamido-4, 6-dideoxy-d-galactose, ManNAcA is N -acetyl-d- mannosaminuronic acid, and GlcNAc is N -acetyl-d-glucosamine. The major form of ECA (ECAPG) consists of polysaccharide chains that are believed to be covalently linked to diacylglycerol through phosphodiester linkage; the phospholipid moiety functions to anchor molecules in the outer membrane. The ECA trisaccharide repeat unit is assembled as a polyisoprenyl-linked intermediate which has been tentatively identified as Fuc4NAc-ManNAcA-GlcNAc-pyrophosphorylundecaprenol (lipid III). Subsequent chain-elongation presumably occurs by a block-polymerization mechanism. However, the identity of the polyisoprenoid carrier-lipid has not been established. Accordingly, the current studies were conducted in an effort to structurally characterize the polyisoprenyl lipid-carrier involved in ECA synthesis. Isolation and characterization of the lipid carrier was facilitated by the accumulation of a ManNAcA-GlcNAc-pyrophosphorylpolyisoprenyl lipid (lipid II) in mutants of Salmonella typhimurium defective in the synthesis of TDP-Fuc4NAc, the donor of Fuc4NAc residues for ECA synthesis. Analyses of lipid II preparations by fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectroscopy (FAB-MS/MS) resulted in the identification of the lipid-carrier as the 55-carbon polyisoprenyl alcohol, undecaprenol. These analyses also resulted in the identification of a novel glycolipid which copurified with lipid II. FAB-MS/MS analyses of this glycolipid revealed its structure to be 1,2-diacyl- sn -glycero-3-pryophosphoryl-GlcNAc-ManNAcA (DGP-disaccharide). An examination of purified ECAPGby phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirmed that the polysaccharide chains are linked to diacylglycerol through phosphodiester linkage. Thus, DGP-disaccharide does not appear to be an intermediate in ECAPGsynthesis. Nevertheless, although the available evidence clearly indicate that lipid II is a precursor of DGP-disaccharide, the function of this novel glycolipid is not yet known, and it may be an intermediate in the biosynthesis of a molecule other than ECAPG.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Correct assembly of human normal adult hemoglobin when expressed in transgenic swine: chemical, conformational and functional equivalence with the human-derived protein.

Structural and functional investigations of recombinant human hemoglobin A (HbA) isolated from the erythrocytes of transgenic swine coexpressing human alpha- and beta-globins have been carried out to authenticate its correct expression, post-translational processing and assembly. The HbA expressed in transgenic swine (TgHbA) is indistinguishable from the human-derived HbA in terms of its isoelectric pH, mass and elution pattern on a Mono S column. The chemical identity of the alpha- and beta-globin chains of TgHbA with the corresponding chains from human-derived HbA has been established by tryptic peptide mapping and amino acid sequencing. The proton NMR spectra of TgHbA have demonstrated that the conformational aspects of the protein around the heme pocket are indistinguishable from those of the control sample of HbA. The equivalence of the hydrogen bond pattern of TgHbA (in particular the inter-subunit surfaces) with that of authentic HbA has also been established by NMR studies. Consistent with these structural and conformational analyses, the TgHbA also exhibits complete functional equivalence with the human-derived HbA with respect to oxygen affinity, cooperativity, Bohr effect and allostery. Hence the studies presented here demonstrate that the transgenic swine system correctly transcribes the alpha- and beta-globin transgenes, translates the respective alpha- and beta-globin mRNA to generate the corresponding globin chains, carries out the correct cotranslational processing of the translated globin chains, inserts the heme into the globin chains in the same orientation as in the human-derived HbA and assembles the alpha- and beta-subunits into a functionally cooperative tetramer that exhibits a response to allosteric effectors identical with that of human-derived HbA. Thus, in the transgenic swine system, in vitro chemical manipulation steps such as those needed in the Escherichia coli and the yeast systems, to convert the rHbA expressed in these systems into forms functionally identical with that of the human-derived protein, are not needed. An additional advantage of the transgenic swine system is the stability of the transgenes over many generations. Hence the transgenic swine could serve as an excellent system for the production of human HbA (or its variants) for structure-function studies and for therapeutic applications.

Adult↗

Diastolic dysfunction coincides with early mild transplant rejection: in situ measurements in a heterotopic rat heart transplant model.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction seen in early clinical transplant rejection has been difficult to demonstrate in experimental rodent models because of the inability to make sensitive in situ measurements of systolic and diastolic functions. We have developed a heterotopic heart transplant model with Fisher 344 and ACI rats (without immunosuppression), where in situ measurements of diastolic and systolic functions were made sequentially (daily) by use of an implanted left ventricular balloon. METHODS: Syngeneic and allogeneic heterotopic heart transplants were performed. In situ function was determined by varying balloon volume to measure the developed pressure, the rates of pressure rise (+dp/dt) and pressure fall (-dp/dt), diastolic pressure-volume relationship, and the time constant of diastolic relaxation (tau). These results were compared with function measurements in transplanted hearts that were excised and perfused in a Langendorff mode (ex vivo) during the same posttransplantation period. RESULTS: Histologic examination revealed that at day 3 after transplantation, allografts showed mild lymphocytic infiltration indicative of mild or early rejection, and by day 5, there was severe rejection with myocyte necrosis. By day 3, the slope of the diastolic pressure-volume relationship (ie, left ventricular stiffness) was significantly higher in allografts as compared with isografts (436 +/- 96 vs 177 +/- 26 mm Hg/mL, p < .05). Similarly, tau was significantly longer in allografts by day 3 after transplantation. Developed pressure and +dp/dt became significantly lower in allografts beginning on day 6. Function measurements made in the isolated perfused ex vivo hearts yielded the same results at day 3 after transplantation as the in situ group of hearts. CONCLUSION: Using a chronically implanted left ventricular balloon, we have developed a heterotopic heart transplant model where sensitive measurements of systolic and diastolic functions can be made. With this preparation, the early changes in the diastolic dysfunction seen clinically can be reproducibly detected. Thus this model may be useful to study mechanisms and interventions during early transplant rejection.

Animals↗

Effect of n-alkanols on lipid bilayer hydration.

The effect of a homologous series of aliphatic n-alkanols on the presence of water within the head group and acyl chain region of lipid bilayers was investigated using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy according to a previously published approach [Ho, C., Slater, S. J., & Stubbs, C. D. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 6188-6195]. Upon addition of n-alkanols to phosphatidylcholine bilayers the fluorescence lifetime of N-[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl]dipalmitoylphosphatidyleth anolamine (dansyl-PE) decreased, indicative of an increased water content within the head group region, the effect being a linear function of n-alkanol chain length (C1-C8), based on the total n-alkanol concentration. The fluorescence lifetimes of 1-palmitoyl-2-[[2-[4-(6-phenyl-trans-1,3, 5-hexatrienyl)phenyl]ethyl]carbonyl]-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (DPH-PC) and N-[[4-(6-phenyl-1,3, 5-hexatrienyl)phenyl]propyl]trimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate (TMAP-DPH), and the fluorescence intensity ratio of the latter in D2O compared to that in H2O, were used to probe the level of water in the acyl chain region. There was a decrease in the lifetime and an increase in the D2O/H2O fluorescence intensity ratio upon addition of short-chain n-alkanols (C1-C3), suggestive of increased water content. By contrast, long-chain n-alkanols (C4-C8) increased the lifetime and decreased the ratio, suggestive of decreased water content. Acyl chain order, determined from DPH-PC fluorescence anisotropy, was decreased by all n-alkanols, indicating that the effects were not probe-dependent. The effects of short- and long-chain n-alkanols on the fluorescence lifetime of the tryptophans of gramicidin, incorporated into phosphatidylcholine bilayers as a model membrane protein, were similar to those obtained with TMAP-DPH and DPH-PC; ethanol decreased and hexanol increased the lifetime. Thus the effect of n-alkanols and general anesthetics on changes in the amount of water that may be accommodated within the acyl chain region of the bilayer is not predictable on the basis of the magnitude of effects on head group region or acyl chain order/fluidity.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Closed form of liganded glutamine-binding protein by rotational-echo double-resonance NMR.

Rotational-echo double-resonance NMR has been used to determine internuclear distances in the complex of glutamine-binding protein and its ligand, l-glutamine. The distances between the ligand and Tyr185 are consistent with the results of molecular dynamics simulations constrained by three REDOR-determined distances to His156. This model is also consistent with six other REDOR-determined internuclear distances, most of which agree with values from the first report of an X-ray structure of the complex of glutamine-binding protein and l-glutamine.

Carrier Proteins↗

Contribution of surface histidyl residues in the alpha-chain to the Bohr effect of human normal adult hemoglobin: roles of global electrostatic effects.

We have applied site-directed mutagenesis to our Escherichia coli hemoglobin expression plasmid and constructed five recombinant mutant hemoglobins (r Hbs): r Hb(alpha20His-->Gln or alpha:H20Q); r Hb(alpha:H50Q); r Hb(alpha:H72Q); r Hb(alpha:H89Q); and r Hb(alpha:H112Q). We have constructed these r Hbs to help us assess the contribution of the surface histidyl residues in the alpha-chain to the alkaline Bohr effect of human normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A). In our laboratory, we have monitored the variation of proton nuclear magnetic resonances arising from the C2 protons of the histidyl residues of Hb A as a function of pH and buffer conditions. Several of these resonances have been assigned to the individual histidyl residues on the surface of the hemoglobin molecule using naturally occurring mutant hemoglobins and chemically modified hemoglobins. In the present work, we have identified the C2 proton resonances of five surface histidyl residues of the alpha-chain, alpha20, alpha50, alpha72, alpha89, and alpha112, in both the carbonmonoxy and deoxy forms, by comparing the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of Hb A with those of the r Hbs. For the assignment of the C2 proton resonances of alpha20His and alpha112His, we have used combinations of mutations to compensate for the spectral perturbations resulting from the single mutations, which obscure the resonance assignment. On the basis of the new findings, in solvent containing 0.1 M chloride, the overall contributions from surface histidyl residues of both the alpha- and beta-chain and from other previously identified alkaline Bohr groups account for approximately 75% of the observed Bohr effect at pH 7.3 (the maximum Bohr effect under the prescribed solvent conditions). Our results show that some histidyl residues contribute to the Bohr effect and some oppose the net Bohr effect. In some cases, the addition of anions can diminish or reverse the contributions of specific histidyl residues to the overall Bohr effect. Thus, the Bohr effect, a heterotropic effect, depends on the intricate arrangement and interactions of all hydrogen and anion binding sites in the hemoglobin molecule. It is an excellent example of global electrostatic effects in proteins.

Adult↗

Presenilin 1 interaction in the brain with a novel member of the Armadillo family.

One approach to understanding the function of presenilin 1 (PS1), is to discover those proteins with which it interacts. Evidence for a function in developmental patterning came from C. elegans, in which a PS homologue was identified by screening for suppressors of a mutation in Notch/lin-12, a gene which specifies cell fate. However, this genetic experiment cannot determine which proteins directly interact with PS1. Therefore, we utilized the two hybrid system and confirmatory co-immunoprecipitations to identify a novel catenin, termed delta-catenin, which interacts with PS1 and is principally expressed in brain. The catenins are a gene family related to the Armadillo gene in Drosophila, some of which appear to have dual roles-they are components of cell-cell adherens junctions, and may serve as intermediates in the Wingless (Wg) signaling pathway, which, like Notch/lin-12, is also responsible for a variety of inductive signaling events. In the non-neuronal 293 cell line, PS1 interacted with beta-catenin, the family member with the greatest homology to Armadillo. Wg and Notch interactions are mediated by the Dishevelled gene, which may form a signaling complex with PS1 and Wg pathway intermediates to regulate the function of the Notch/lin-12 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quaternary structure sensitive tyrosine interactions in hemoglobin: a UV resonance Raman study of the double mutant rHb (beta99Asp-->Asn, alpha42Tyr-->Asp).

Two interactions involving tyrosines have been implicated in the communication pathway that links ligand binding to quaternary state changes in hemoglobin. Tyr alpha(1)42 stabilizes the alpha1beta2 T state interface through the formation of a hydrogen bond to Asp beta(2)99. The side chains of the penultimate Tyr residues (alpha140 and beta145) occupy the pockets made by helicies F and H in the deoxy form with the phenolic hydroxyl hydrogen bonded to the carbonyl group of Val FG5. Early crystallographic studies indicated that in the R form the penultimate Tyr is expelled out of the pocket, thus eliminating the hydrogen bond. This hydrogen bond has been considered to play an important role in maintaining the low-oxygen-affinity state (T state) in deoxy HbA, but a later higher resolution crystallographic study (Shannon, 1983) failed to reveal such movement of this Tyr during the R --> T transition. Nevertheless, conversion of this Tyr to Phe increases oxygen affinity considerably, suggesting that hydrogen bonding is involved in oxygen affinity modulation. Earlier ultraviolet resonance Raman results reported by Spiro and co-workers [Rodgers et al. (1992) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 3697-3709] were used to conclude that the significant quaternary structure dependent changes observed in tyrosine Raman bands are due to the formation of the T state hydrogen bond with Tyr alpha42 acting as a proton acceptor rather than being the anticipated proton donor, as would be expected if Asp beta99 were ionized. This surprising result rests on the assumption that changes in the environment of Tyr alpha42 are the overwhelming contributor to the R - T UV Raman difference spectrum. In this study, a cooperative double mutant lacking Tyr alpha42, [rHb (Asp beta99 --> Asn, Tyr alpha42 --> Asp)], is used to determine the relative contributions of Tyr alpha42 and the penultimate tyrosines to the R - T UV resonance Raman difference spectrum. The results both directly support the claim that Tyr alpha42 is the proton acceptor in the T state and expose the potential role of the penultimate tyrosines in coupling the quaternary state to the ligand reactivity.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Presenilin 1 interaction in the brain with a novel member of the Armadillo family.

One approach to understanding the function of presenilin 1 (PS1), is to discover those proteins with which it interacts. Evidence for a function in developmental patterning came from C. elegans, in which a PS homologue was identified by screening for suppressors of a mutation in Notch/lin-12, a gene which specifies cell fate. However, this genetic experiment cannot determine which proteins directly interact with PS1. Therefore, we utilized the two hybrid system and confirmatory co-immunoprecipitations to identify a novel catenin, termed gamma-catenin, which interacts with PS1 and is principally expressed in brain. The catenins are a gene family related to the Armadillo gene in Drosophila, some of which appear to have dual roles-they are components of cell-cell adherens junctions, and may serve as intermediates in the Wingless (Wg) signaling pathway, which, like Notch/lin-12, is also responsible for a variety of inductive signaling events. In the non-neuronal 293 cell line, PS1 interacted with gamma-catenin, the family member with the greatest homology to Armadillo. Wg and Notch interactions are mediated by the Disheveled gene, which may form a signaling complex with PS1 and Wg pathway intermediates to regulate the function of the Notch/lin-12 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interaction of alcohols and anesthetics with protein kinase Calpha.

The key signal transduction enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) contains a hydrophobic binding site for alcohols and anesthetics (Slater, S. J., Cox, K. J. A., Lombardi, J. V., Ho, C., Kelly, M. B., Rubin, E., and Stubbs, C. D. (1993) Nature 364, 82-84). In this study, we show that interaction of n-alkanols and general anesthetics with PKCalpha results in dramatically different effects on membrane-associated compared with lipid-independent enzyme activity. Furthermore, the effects on membrane-associated PKCalpha differ markedly depending on whether activity is induced by diacylglycerol or phorbol ester and also on n-alkanol chain length. PKCalpha contains two distinct phorbol ester binding regions of low and high affinity for the activator, respectively (Slater, S. J., Ho, C., Kelly, M. B., Larkin, J. D., Taddeo, F. J., Yeager, M. D., and Stubbs, C. D. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 4627-4631). Short chain n-alkanols competed for low affinity phorbol ester binding to the enzyme, resulting in reduced enzyme activity, whereas high affinity phorbol ester binding was unaffected. Long chain n-alkanols not only competed for low affinity phorbol ester binding but also enhanced high affinity phorbol ester binding. Furthermore, long chain n-alkanols enhanced phorbol ester induced PKCalpha activity. This effect of long chain n-alkanols was similar to that of diacylglycerol, although the n-alkanols alone were weak activators of the enzyme. The cellular effects of n-alkanols and general anesthetics on PKC-mediated processes will therefore depend in a complex manner on the locality of the enzyme (e.g. cytoskeletal or membrane-associated) and activator type, apart from any isoform-specific differences. Furthermore, effects mediated by interaction with the region on the enzyme possessing low affinity for phorbol esters represent a novel mechanism for the regulation of PKC activity.

Alcohols↗

Automated probabilistic method for assigning backbone resonances of (13C,15N)-labeled proteins.

We present a computer algorithm for the automated assignment of polypeptide backbone and 13C beta resonances of a protein of known primary sequence. Input to the algorithm consists of cross peaks from several 3D NMR experiments: HNCA, HN(CA)CO, HN(CA)HA, HNCACB, COCAH, HCA(CO)N, HNCO, HN(CO)CA, HN(COCA)HA, and CBCA(CO)NH. Data from these experiments performed on glutamine-binding protein are analyzed statistically using Bayes' theorem to yield objective probability scoring functions for matching chemical shifts. Such scoring is used in the first state of the algorithm to combine cross peaks from the first five experiments to form intraresidue segments of chemical shifts (Ni,HiN,Ci alpha, Ci beta, Ci'), while the latter five are combined into interresidue segments (Ci alpha,Ci beta,Ci',Ni + 1,Hi + 1N). Given a tentative assignment of segments, the second stage of the procedure calculates probability scores based on the likelihood of matching the chemical shifts of each segment with (i) overlapping segments; and (ii) chemical shift distributions of the underlying amino acid type (and secondary structure, if known). This joint probability is maximized by rearranging segments using a simulated annealing program, optimized for efficiency. The automated assignment program was tested using CBCANH and CBCA(CO)NH cross peaks of the two previously assigned proteins, calmodulin and CheA. The agreement between the results of our method and the published assignments was excellent. Our algorithm was also applied to the observed cross peaks of glutamine-binding protein of Escherichia coli, yielding an assignment in excellent agreement with that obtained by time-consuming, manual methods. The chemical shift assignment procedure described here should be most useful for NMR studies of large proteins, which are now feasible with the use of pulsed-field gradients and random partial deuteration of samples.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

1H, 13C, and 15N NMR backbone assignments and chemical-shift-derived secondary structure of glutamine-binding protein of Escherichia coli.

1H, 13C, and 15N NMR assignments of the backbone atoms and beta-carbons have been made for liganded glutamine-binding protein (GlnBP) of Escherichia coli, a monomeric protein with 226 amino acid residues and a molecular weight of 24935 Da. GlnBP is a periplasmic binding protein which plays an essential role in the active transport of L-glutamine through the cytoplasmic membrane. The assignments have been obtained from three-dimensional triple-resonance NMR experiments on a 13C, 15N uniformly labeled sample as well as specifically labeled samples. Results from the 3D triple-resonance experiments, HNCO, HN(CO)CA, HN(COCA)HA, HNCA, HN(CA)HA, HN(CA)CO, and CBCA(CO)NH, are the main sources used to make the resonance assignments. Other 3D experiments, such as HNCACB, COCAH, HCACO, HCACON, and HOHAHA-HMQC, have been used to confirm the resonance assignments and to extend connections where resonance peaks are missing in some of the experiments mentioned above. We have assigned more than 95% of the polypeptide backbone resonances of GlnBP. The result of the standard manual assignment is in agreement with that predicted by an automated probailistic method developed in our laboratory. A solution secondary structure of the GlnBP-Gln complex has been proposed based on chemical shift deviations from random coil values. Eight alpha-helices and 10 beta-strands are derived using the Chemical Shift Index method.

Amino Acid Sequence↗