Biomedical subjects

Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede

Publications and source records attributed to Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Folding and assembly pathways of co-chaperonin proteins 10: Origin of bacterial thermostability.

To compare folding/assembly processes of heptameric co-chaperonin proteins 10 (cpn10) from different species and search for the origin of thermostability in hyper-thermostable Aquifex aeolicus cpn10 (Aacpn10), we have studied two bacterial variants-Aacpn10 and Escherichia coli cpn10 (GroES)-and compared the results to data on Homo sapiens cpn10 (hmcpn10). Equilibrium denaturation of GroES by urea, guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) and temperature results in coupled heptamer-to-monomer transitions in all cases. This is similar to the behavior of Aacpn10 but differs from hmcpn10 denaturation in urea. Time-resolved experiments reveal that GroES unfolds before heptamer dissociation, whereas refolding/reassembly begins with folding of individual monomers; these assemble in a slower step. The sequential folding/assembly mechanism for GroES is rather similar to that observed for Aacpn10 but contradicts the parallel paths of hmcpn10. We reveal that Aacpn10's stability profile is shifted upwards, broadened, and also moved horizontally to higher temperatures, as compared to that of GroES.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Kinetic folding and assembly mechanisms differ for two homologous heptamers.

Here we investigate the time-resolved folding and assembly mechanism of the heptameric co-chaperonin protein 10 (cpn10) in vitro. The structure of cpn10 is conserved throughout nature: seven beta-barrel subunits are non-covalently assembled through beta-strand pairings in an overall doughnut-like shape. Kinetic folding/assembly experiments of chemically denatured cpn10 from Homo sapiens (hmcpn10) and Aquifex aeolicus (Aacpn10) were monitored by far-UV circular dichroism and fluorescence. We find the processes to be complex, involving several kinetic steps, and to differ between the mesophilic and hyper-thermophilic proteins. The hmcpn10 molecules partition into two parallel pathways, one involving polypeptide folding before protein-protein assembly and another in which inter-protein interactions take place prior to folding. In contrast, the Aacpn10 molecules follow a single sequential path that includes initial monomer misfolding, relaxation to productive intermediates and, subsequently, final folding and heptamer assembly. An A. aeolicus variant lacking the unique C-terminal extension of Aacpn10 displays the same kinetic mechanism as Aacpn10, signifying that the tail is not responsible for the rapid misfolding step. This study demonstrates that molecular details can overrule similarity of native-state topology in defining apparent protein-biophysical properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Differential effects of alcohols on conformational switchovers in alpha-helical and beta-sheet protein models.

Organic solvents may induce non-native structures of proteins that mimic folding intermediates and/or conformations that occur in proximity to biological membranes. Here we systematically investigate the effects of simple (i.e., MeOH and EtOH) and fluorinated (i.e., trifluoroethanol, TFE) alcohols on the secondary structure and thermodynamic stability of two complementary model proteins using a combination of circular dichroism, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) detection methods. The selected proteins are alpha-helical Borrelia burgdorferi VlsE and beta-sheet human mitochondrial co-chaperonin protein 10 (cpn10). We find that switches between VlsE's native and non-native superhelical and beta-sheet structures readily occur (pH 7, 20 degrees C). The pathway depends on the alcohol: addition of MeOH induces a transition to a superhelical structure that is followed by conversion to beta-structure, whereas EtOH only unfolds the protein. TFE unfolds VlsE at low percentages but promotes the formation of a superhelical state upon further additions. For cpn10, both MeOH and TFE additions govern initial unfolding; however, further additions of MeOH result in the formation of a non-native beta-structure, whereas subsequent additions of TFE induce a superhelical structure. EtOH additions promptly unfold and precipitate cpn10. Both VlsE's and cpn10's non-native structures exhibit high stability toward chemical and thermal perturbations. This study demonstrates that in response to different alcohols, polypeptides can readily adopt both alpha- and beta-enriched conformations. The biological significance of these findings is discussed.

Alcohols↗

PubMed2006

Phi-value analysis of apo-azurin folding: comparison between experiment and theory.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin is a 128-residue beta-sandwich metalloprotein; in vitro kinetic experiments have shown that it folds in a two-state reaction. Here, we used a variational free energy functional to calculate the characteristics of the transition state ensemble (TSE) for folding of the apo-form of P. aeruginosa azurin and investigate how it responds to thermal and mutational changes. The variational method directly yields predicted chevron plots for wild-type and mutant apo-forms of azurin. In parallel, we performed in vitro kinetic-folding experiments on the same set of azurin variants using chemical perturbation. Like the wild-type protein, all apo-variants fold in apparent two-state reactions both in calculations and in stopped-flow mixing experiments. Comparisons of phi (phi) values determined from the experimental and theoretical chevron parameters reveal an excellent agreement for most positions, indicating a polarized, highly structured TSE for folding of P. aeruginosa apo-azurin. We also demonstrate that careful analysis of side-chain interactions is necessary for appropriate theoretical description of core mutants.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2006

Folding of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans flavodoxin is accelerated by cofactor fly-casting.

Folding of cofactor-binding proteins involves ligand binding in addition to polypeptide folding. We here assess the kinetic folding/binding landscape for Desulfovibrio desulfuricans flavodoxin that coordinates an FMN cofactor. The apo-form folds in a two-step process involving a burst-phase intermediate. Studies on Tyr98Ala and Trp60Ala variants reveal that these aromatics-that stack with the FMN in the holo-form-are not participating in the apo-protein folding pathway. However, these residues are essential for FMN interactions with the unfolded protein during refolding of holo-flavodoxin. Unfolding of wild-type holo-flavodoxin is coupled to FMN dissociation whereas for Tyr98Ala and Trp60Ala holo-variants, FMN dissociates before polypeptide unfolding. Both variants refold as apo-proteins before FMN rebinds. In sharp contrast, refolding of unfolded wild-type holo-flavodoxin is over an order of magnitude faster than that of the apo-form, the pathway does not include a burst-phase intermediate, and the speed is independent of FMN excess ratio. These observations demonstrate that FMN binds rapidly to the unfolded polypeptide and guides folding straight to the native state. As this path to functional D. desulfuricans holo-flavodoxin is faster than if the cofactor binds to pre-folded apo-protein, this is one of few examples where molecular recognition via a "fly-casting" mechanism is kinetically favored.

Alanine↗

PubMed2006

Solvation of the folding-transition state in Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin is modulated by metal: Solvation of azurin's folding nucleus.

The role of water in protein folding, specifically its presence or not in the transition-state structure, is an unsolved question. There are two common classes of folding-transition states: diffuse transition states, in which almost all side chains have similar, rather low phi (phi) values, and polarized transition states, which instead display distinct substructures with very high phi-values. Apo-and zinc-forms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin both fold in two-state equilibrium and kinetic reactions; while the apo-form exhibits a polarized transition state, the zinc form entails a diffuse, moving transition state. To examine the presence of water in these two types of folding-transition states, we probed the equilibrium and kinetic consequences of replacing core valines with isosteric threonines at six positions in azurin. In contrast to regular hydrophobic-to-alanine phi-value analysis, valine-to-threonine mutations do not disrupt the core packing but stabilize the unfolded state and can be used to assess the degree of solvation in the folding-transition state upon combination with regular phi-values. We find that the transition state for folding of apo-azurin appears completely dry, while that for zinc-azurin involves partially formed interactions that engage water molecules. This distinct difference between the apo-and holo-folding nuclei can be rationalized in terms of the shape of the free-energy barrier.

Alanine↗

PubMed2006

Correlation between protein stability cores and protein folding kinetics: a case study on Pseudomonas aeruginosa apo-azurin.

This paper reports a combined computational and experimental study of the correlation between protein stability cores and folding kinetics. An empirical potential function was developed, and it was used for analyzing interaction energies among secondary structure elements. Studies on a beta sandwich protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, showed that the computationally identified substructure with the strongest interactions in the native state is identical to the "interlocked pair" of beta strands, an invariant motif found in most sandwich-like proteins. Moreover, previous and new in vitro folding results revealed that the identified substructure harbors most residues that form native-like interactions in the folding transition state. These observations demonstrate that the potential function is effective in revealing the relative strength of interactions among various protein parts; they also strengthen the suggestion that the most stable regions in native proteins favor stable interactions early during folding.

Apoproteins↗

PubMed2006

On the precision of experimentally determined protein folding rates and phi-values.

Phi-values, a relatively direct probe of transition-state structure, are an important benchmark in both experimental and theoretical studies of protein folding. Recently, however, significant controversy has emerged regarding the reliability with which phi-values can be determined experimentally: Because phi is a ratio of differences between experimental observables it is extremely sensitive to errors in those observations when the differences are small. Here we address this issue directly by performing blind, replicate measurements in three laboratories. By monitoring within- and between-laboratory variability, we have determined the precision with which folding rates and phi-values are measured using generally accepted laboratory practices and under conditions typical of our laboratories. We find that, unless the change in free energy associated with the probing mutation is quite large, the precision of phi-values is relatively poor when determined using rates extrapolated to the absence of denaturant. In contrast, when we employ rates estimated at nonzero denaturant concentrations or assume that the slopes of the chevron arms (mf and mu) are invariant upon mutation, the precision of our estimates of phi is significantly improved. Nevertheless, the reproducibility we thus obtain still compares poorly with the confidence intervals typically reported in the literature. This discrepancy appears to arise due to differences in how precision is calculated, the dependence of precision on the number of data points employed in defining a chevron, and interlaboratory sources of variability that may have been largely ignored in the prior literature.

Fluorometry↗

PubMed2005

Unfolding of heptameric co-chaperonin protein follows "fly casting" mechanism: observation of transient nonnative heptamer.

Protein recognition and binding play a fundamental role in living systems but sometimes also result in pathological aggregates. To probe the coupling between folding and binding in a homoheptameric system, we have characterized the time-resolved unfolding/disassembly mechanism of human co-chaperonin protein 10 (cpn10) by a combination of experimental and computational methods. The results from both approaches are in excellent agreement and make obvious that the kinetic process is three-state: an initial polypeptide-unfolding step, resulting in a non-native heptamer, is followed by a slower heptamer-dissociation step. This demonstrates that the barriers on the kinetic free-energy landscape are defined by thermodynamic stability. cpn10 is one of few, and the only heptameric, experimentally characterized system that follows the "fly casting scenario" of molecular recognition.

Chaperonin 10↗

PubMed2005

Role of the unique peptide tail in hyperthermostable Aquifex aeolicus cochaperonin protein 10.

All known cochaperonin protein 10 (cpn10) molecules are heptamers of seven identical subunits noncovalently linked by beta-strand interactions. Cpn10 from the deep-branching, hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus (Aacpn10) shows high homology with mesophilic and other thermophilic cpn10 sequences, except for a 25-residue C-terminal extension not found in any other cpn10. Prior to atomic structure information, we here address the role of the tail by biophysical means. A tail-lacking variant (Aacpn10-del25) also adopts a heptameric structure in solution and exhibits nativelike substrate-refolding activity. Thermal and chemical perturbations of both Aacpn10 and Aacpn10-del25, probed by far-UV circular dichroism, demonstrate that both proteins have high thermodynamic stability. Heptamer-monomer dissociation midpoints were defined by isothermal titration calorimetry; at 25 degrees C, the values for Aacpn10 and Aacpn10-del25 are within 2-fold of each other and close to reported midpoints for mesophilic cpn10 proteins. In contrast, the monomer stabilities for the A. aeolicus proteins are significantly higher than those of mesophilic homologues at 30 degrees C; thus, heptamer thermophily is a result of more stable monomers. Electron microscopy data reveals that Aacpn10-del25 heptamers are prone to stack on top of each other forming chainlike molecules; the electrostatic surface pattern of a structural model can explain this behavior. Taken together, the unique tail in Aacpn10 is not required for heptamer structure, stability, or function; instead, it appears to be an ancient strategy to avoid cochaperonin aggregation at extreme temperatures.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2005

The experimental folding landscape of monomeric lactose repressor, a large two-domain protein, involves two kinetic intermediates.

To probe the experimental folding behavior of a large protein with complex topology, we created a monomeric variant of the lactose repressor protein (MLAc), a well characterized tetrameric protein that regulates transcription of the lac operon. Purified MLAc is folded, fully functional, and binds the inducer isopropyl beta-d-thiogalactoside with the same affinity as wild-type LacI. Equilibrium unfolding of MLAc induced by the chemical denaturant urea is a reversible, apparent two-state process (pH 7.5, 20 degrees C). However, time-resolved experiments demonstrate that unfolding is single-exponential, whereas refolding data indicate two transient intermediates. The data reveal the initial formation of a burst-phase (tau < ms) intermediate that corresponds to approximately 50% of the total secondary-structure content. This step is followed by a rearrangement reaction that is rate-limited by an unfolding process (tau approximately 3 s; pH 7.5, 20 degrees C) and results in a second intermediate. This MLAc intermediate converts to the native structure (tau approximately 30 s; pH 7.5, 20 degrees C). Remarkably, the experimental folding-energy landscape for MLAc is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions using a simple topology-based C(alpha)-model as presented in a companion article in this issue.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Characterization of the folding landscape of monomeric lactose repressor: quantitative comparison of theory and experiment.

Recent theoretical/computational studies based on simplified protein models and experimental investigation have suggested that the native structure of a protein plays a primary role in determining the folding rate and mechanism of relatively small single-domain proteins. Here, we extend the study of the relationship between protein topology and folding mechanism to a larger protein with complex topology, by analyzing the folding process of monomeric lactose repressor (MLAc) computationally by using a Gō-like C(alpha) model. Next, we combine simulation and experimental results (see companion article in this issue) to achieve a comprehensive assessment of the folding landscape of this protein. Remarkably, simulated kinetic and equilibrium analyses show an excellent quantitative agreement with the experimental folding data of this study. The results of this comparison show that a simplified, completely unfrustrated C(alpha) model correctly reproduces the complex folding features of a large multidomain protein with complex topology. The success of this effort underlines the importance of synergistic experimental/theoretical approaches to achieve a broader understanding of the folding landscape.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Dissecting homo-heptamer thermodynamics by isothermal titration calorimetry: entropy-driven assembly of co-chaperonin protein 10.

Normally, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is used to study binding reactions between two different biomolecules. Self-association processes leading to homo-oligomeric complexes have usually not been studied by ITC; instead, methods such as spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation, which only provide affinity and Gibbs-free energy (i.e., K(D) and DeltaG), are employed. We here demonstrate that complete thermodynamic descriptions (i.e., K(D), DeltaG, DeltaH, and DeltaS) for self-associating systems can be obtained by ITC-dilution experiments upon proper analysis. We use this approach to probe the dissociation (and thus association) equilibrium for the heptameric co-chaperonin proteins 10 (cpn10) from Aquifex aeolicus (Aacpn10-del25) and human mitochondria (hmcpn10). We find that the midpoints for the heptamer-monomer equilibrium occur at 0.51 +/- 0.03 microM and 3.5 +/- 0.1 microM total monomer concentration (25 degrees C), for Aacpn10-del25 and hmcpn10, respectively. For both proteins, association involves endothermic enthalpy and positive entropy changes; thus, the reactions are driven by the entropy increase. This is in accord with the release of ordered water molecules and, for the thermophilic variant, a relaxation of monomer-tertiary structure when the heptamers form.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2005

Snapshots of a dynamic folding nucleus in zinc-substituted Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin.

Zinc-substituted Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin folds in two-state equilibrium and kinetic reactions. In the unfolded state, the zinc ion remains bound to the unfolded polypeptide via two native-state ligands (His117 and Cys112). The significantly curved Chevron plot for zinc-substituted azurin was earlier ascribed to movement of the folding-transition state. At low concentrations of denaturant, the transition state occurs early in the folding reaction (low Tanford beta-value), whereas at high-denaturant concentration, it moves closer to the native structure (high Tanford beta-value). Here, we use this movement to track the formation and growth of zinc-substituted azurin's folding nucleus with atomic resolution using protein engineering. The average phi (phi) value for 17 positions (covering all secondary-structure elements) goes from 0.25 in 0 M GuHCl (beta approximately 0.46) to 0.76 in 4 M GuHCl (beta approximately 0.86); a phi-value of 1 or 0 indicates native-like or unfolded-like interactions, respectively. Analysis of individual phi-values reveals a delocalized nucleus where structure condenses around a leading density centered on Leu50 in the core. The diffuse moving transition state for zinc-substituted azurin is in sharp contrast to the fixed polarized folding nucleus observed for apo-azurin. The dramatic difference in apparent kinetic behavior for the two forms of azurin can be rationalized as a minor alteration on a common free-energy profile that exhibits a broad activation barrier.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2005

Interface mutation in heptameric co-chaperonin protein 10 destabilizes subunits but not interfaces.

We here report on a human mitochondrial co-chaperonin protein 10 (cpn10) variant in which the conserved interface residue leucine-96 is replaced with glycine (Leu96Gly cpn10). According to analytical ultracentrifugation, the mutation does not perturb the ability to assemble into a heptamer and electron microscopy reveals that Leu96Gly cpn10 is ring-shaped like wild-type cpn10. Despite elimination of a hydrophobic residue, the subunit-subunit affinity is essentially identical in Leu96Gly cpn10 and in wild-type cpn10. This is explained by a compensating rearrangement in Leu96Gly cpn10, evident from cross-linking and gel-filtration experiments. As a direct result of lower monomer stability, Leu96Gly cpn10 is dramatically less stable towards chemical and thermal perturbations as compared to wild-type cpn10. We conclude that leucine-96 is an interface residue preserved to guarantee stable cpn10 monomers. Our study demonstrates that the cpn10 interfaces can adapt to structural alterations without loss of either subunit-subunit affinity or heptamer specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Unique complex between bacterial azurin and tumor-suppressor protein p53.

The tumor-suppressor protein p53 is a major player in regulation of cell growth, genomic stability, and cell death. Recent work suggests that Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, as the only bacterial protein known to date, can enter cancer cells and interact with p53 promoting cell death. For the first time, here we demonstrate and characterize this proposed complex using purified proteins in vitro. We find that azurin binds to p53 with nanomolar affinity in a four-to-one stoichiometry (pH 7.5, 25 degrees C). Upon azurin binding, secondary structure is induced and tryptophan fluorescence is quenched, implying that interactions occur in the N-terminal p53 domain which is also the binding site for many oncogenes. Further biophysical studies may assist the design of novel cancer treatments that are based on azurin.

Azurin↗

PubMed2005

Effect of inorganic phosphate on FMN binding and loop flexibility in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans apo-flavodoxin.

The complex between flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and apo-flavodoxin is dominated by isoalloxazine-stacking interactions and 5'-phosphate hydrogen bonds. We show here that FMN binding to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans apo-flavodoxin is faster and the affinity is higher in the presence of inorganic phosphate as compared to in its absence (I=110 mM, pH 7, 20 degrees C). The transition-state of complex formation was investigated by phi-value analysis using Trp60Ala and Tyr98Ala apo-flavodoxin variants. We find that Tyr98 is highly involved in the FMN/protein transition state independent of inorganic phosphate, whereas the participation of Trp60 is modulated by inorganic phosphate. The phi-value for Trp60 is higher without phosphate, implying that at this condition stronger binding of Trp60 is required in the transition state to assure successful complex formation. Consistent with the experimental data, all-atom molecular dynamic simulations reveal that the presence of an anion in the phosphate subsite restricts the mobility of the Trp60-containing loop in terms of both backbone and side-chain movements, but has no effect on the Tyr98-containing loop. The overall thermodynamic stability of apo-flavodoxin is higher in the presence of inorganic phosphate as compared to in its absence (I=110 mM, pH 7, 20 degrees C). Kinetic experiments reveal that the additional stability originates in slower unfolding. The combined experimental and computational observations demonstrate that phosphate has an ordering effect on the Trp60-containing loop, which positions Trp60 favorably for FMN binding and increases the barrier for protein unfolding.

Apoproteins↗

PubMed2005

Role of structural determinants in folding of the sandwich-like protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin.

An invariant substructure that forms two interlocked pairs of neighboring beta-strands occurs in essentially all known sandwich-like proteins. Eight conserved positions in these strands were recently shown to act as structural determinants. To test whether the residues at these invariant positions are conserved for mechanistic (i.e., part of folding nucleus) or energetic (i.e., governing native-state stability) reasons, we characterized the folding behavior of eight point-mutated variants of the sandwich-like protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa apo-azurin. We find a simple relationship among the conserved positions: half of the residues form native-like interactions in the folding transition state, whereas the others do not participate in the folding nucleus but govern high native-state stability. Thus, evolutionary preservation of these specific positions gives both mechanistic and energetic advantages to members of the sandwich-like protein family.

Azurin↗