Biomedical subjects

Graeme Ball

Publications and source records attributed to Graeme Ball.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Measurement of one-bond 13Calpha-1Halpha residual dipolar coupling constants in proteins by selective manipulation of CalphaHalpha spins.

We have developed new 2D and 3D experiments for the measurement of C(alpha)-H(alpha) residual dipolar coupling constants in (13)C and (15)N labelled proteins. Two experiments, 2D (HNCO)-(J-CA)NH and 3D (HN)CO-(J-CA)NH, sample the C(alpha)-H(alpha) splitting by means of C(alpha) magnetization, while 2D (J-HACACO)NH and 3D J-HA(CACO)NH use H(alpha) magnetization to achieve a similar result. In the 2D experiments the coupling evolution is superimposed on the evolution of the (15)N chemical shifts and the IPAP principle is used to obtain (1)H-(15)N HSQC-like spectra from which the splitting is determined. The use of a third dimension in 3D experiments reduces spectral overlap to the point where use of an IPAP scheme may not be necessary. The length of the sampling interval in the J-dimension of these experiments is dictated solely by the relaxation properties of C(alpha) or H(alpha) nuclei. This was made possible by the use of C(alpha) selective pulses in combination with either a DPFGSE or modified BIRD pulses. Inclusion of these pulse sequence elements in the J-evolution periods removes unwanted spin-spin interactions. This allows prolonged sampling periods ( approximately 25 ms) yielding higher precision C(alpha)-H(alpha) splitting determination than is achievable with existing frequency based methods.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Human C4b-binding protein, structural basis for interaction with streptococcal M protein, a major bacterial virulence factor.

Human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) protects host tissue, and those pathogens able to hijack this plasma glycoprotein, from complement-mediated destruction. We now show that the first two complement control protein (CCP) modules of the C4BP alpha-chain, plus the four residues connecting them, are necessary and sufficient for binding a bacterial virulence factor, the Streptococcus pyogenes M4 (Arp4) protein. Structure determination by NMR reveals two tightly coupled CCP modules in an elongated arrangement within this region of C4BP. Chemical shift perturbation studies demonstrate that the N-terminal, hypervariable region of M4 binds to a site including strand 1 of CCP module 2. This interaction is accompanied by an intermodular reorientation within C4BP. We thus provide a detailed picture of an interaction whereby a pathogen evades complement.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Solution structure of a functionally active fragment of decay-accelerating factor.

The second and third modules of human decay accelerating factor (DAF) are necessary and sufficient to accelerate decay of the classical pathway (CP) convertase of complement. No structure of a mammalian protein with decay-accelerating activity has been available to date. We therefore determined the solution structure of DAF modules 2 and 3 (DAF approximately 2,3). Structure-guided analysis of 24 mutants identified likely contact points between DAF and the CP convertase. Three (R96, R69, and a residue in the vicinity of L171) lie on DAF approximately 2,3's concave face. A fourth, consisting of K127 and nearby R100, is on the opposite face. Regions of module 3 remote from the semiflexible 2-3 interface seem not to be involved in binding to the CP convertase. DAF thus seems to occupy a groove on the CP convertase such that both faces of DAF close to the 2-3 junction (including a positively charged region that encircles the protein at this point) interact simultaneously. Alternative pathway convertase interactions with DAF require additional regions of CCP 3 lying away from the 2-3 interface, consistent with the established additional requirement of module 4 for alternative pathway regulation.

Binding Sites↗