Biomedical subjects

Christy R R Grace

Publications and source records attributed to Christy R R Grace.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

NMR techniques for very large proteins and rnas in solution.

Three-dimensional structure determination of small proteins and oligonucleotides by solution NMR is established. With the development of novel NMR and labeling techniques, structure determination is now feasible for proteins with a molecular mass of up to approximately 100 kDa and RNAs of up to 35 kDa. Beyond these molecular masses special techniques and approaches are required for applying NMR as a multiprobe method for structural investigations of proteins and RNAs. It is the aim of this review to summarize the NMR techniques and approaches available to advance the molecular mass limit of NMR both for proteins (up to 1 MDa) and RNAs (up to 100 kDa). Physical pictures of the novel techniques, their experimental applications, as well as labeling and assignment strategies are discussed and accompanied by future perspectives.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

The three-dimensional structure of the N-terminal domain of corticotropin-releasing factor receptors: sushi domains and the B1 family of G protein-coupled receptors.

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors, CRF-R1 and CRF-R2, belong to the B1 subfamily of G protein-coupled Receptors (GPCRs), including receptors for secretin, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), calcitonin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The peptide ligand family comprises CRF, Ucn 1, 2, and 3. CRF plays the major role in integrating the response to stress. Additionally, the ligands exhibit many effects on muscle, pancreas, heart, and the GI, reproductive, and immune systems. CRF-R1 has higher affinity for CRF than does CRF-R2 while both receptors bind Ucn 1 equally. CRF-R2 shows specificity for Ucns 2 and 3. A major binding domain of the CRFRs is the N terminus/first extracellular domain (ECD1). Soluble proteins corresponding to the ECD1s of each receptor bind CRF ligands with nanomolar affinities. Our three-dimensional (3D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of a soluble protein corresponding to the ECD1 of CRF-R2beta (1) identified its structural fold as a Sushi domain/short consensus repeat (SCR), stabilized by three disulfide bridges, two tryptophan residues, and an internal salt bridge (Asp65-Arg101). Disruption of the bridge by D65A mutation abrogates ligand recognition and results in loss of the well-defined disulfide pattern and Sushi domain structure. NMR analysis of the ECD1 in complex with astressin identified key amino acids involved in ligand recognition. Mutation of some of these residues in the full-length receptor reduces its affinity for CRF ligands. A structure-based sequence comparison shows conservation of key amino acids in all the B1 subfamily receptors, suggesting a corresponding conservation of a Sushi domain structural fold of their ECD1s.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

NMR structure and peptide hormone binding site of the first extracellular domain of a type B1 G protein-coupled receptor.

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) ligand family has diverse effects on the CNS, including the modulation of the stress response. The ligands' effects are mediated by binding to CRF G protein-coupled receptors. We have determined the 3D NMR structure of the N-terminal extracellular domain (ECD1) of the mouse CRF receptor 2beta, which is the major ligand recognition domain, and identified its ligand binding site by chemical-shift perturbation experiments. The fold is identified as a short consensus repeat (SCR), a common protein interaction module. Mutagenesis reveals the integrity of the hormone-binding site in the full-length receptor. This study proposes that the ECD1 captures the C-terminal segment of the ligand, whose N terminus then penetrates into the transmembrane region of the receptor to initiate signaling. Key residues of SCR in the ECD1 are conserved in the G protein-coupled receptor subfamily, suggesting the SCR fold in all of the ECD1s of this subfamily.

Amino Acid Sequence↗