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Autoregulation of a bacterial sigma factor explored by using segmental isotopic labeling and NMR.

Bacterial sigma factors combine with the catalytic core RNA polymerase to direct the process of transcription initiation through sequence-specific interactions with the -10 and -35 elements of promoter DNA. In the absence of core RNA polymerase, the DNA-binding function of sigma is autoinhibited by its own N-terminal 90 amino acids (region 1.1), putatively by a direct interaction with conserved region 4.2, which binds the -35 promoter element. In the present work, this mechanism of autoinhibition was studied by using a combination of NMR spectroscopy and segmental isotopic labeling of a sigma70-like subunit from Thermotoga maritima. Our data argue strongly against a high-affinity interaction between these two domains. Instead we suggest that autoinhibition of DNA binding occurs through an indirect steric and/or electrostatic mechanism. More generally, the present work illustrates the power of segmental isotopic labeling for probing molecular interactions in large proteins by NMR.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and site-directed isotope labeling as a probe of local secondary structure in the transmembrane domain of phospholamban.

Phospholamban is a 52-amino acid residue membrane protein that regulates Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac muscle cells. The hydrophobic C-terminal 28 amino acid fragment of phospholamban (hPLB) anchors the protein in the membrane and may form part of a Ca(2+)-selective ion channel. We have used polarized attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy along with site-directed isotope labeling to probe the local structure of hPLB. The frequency and dichroism of the amide I and II bands appearing at 1658 cm-1 and 1544 cm-1, respectively, show that dehydrated and hydrated hPLB reconstituted into dimyristoylphosphatidycholine bilayer membranes is predominantly alpha-helical and has a net transmembrane orientation. Specific local secondary structure of hPLB was probed by incorporating 13C at two positions in the protein backbone. A small band seen near 1614 cm-1 is assigned to the amide I mode of the 13C-labeled amide carbonyl group(s). The frequency and dichroism of this band indicate that residues 39 and 46 are alpha-helical, with an axial orientation that is approximately 30 degrees relative to the membrane normal. Upon exposure to 2H2O (D2O), 30% of the peptide amide groups in hPLB undergo a slow deuterium/hydrogen exchange. The remainder of the protein, including the peptide groups of Leu-39 and Leu-42, appear inaccessible to exchange, indicating that most of the hPLB fragment is embedded in the lipid bilayer. By extending spectroscopic characterization of PLB to include hydrated, deuterated as well as site-directed isotope-labeled hPLB films, our results strongly support models of PLB that predict the existence of an alpha-helical hydrophobic region spanning the membrane domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Origins of neutral sterols in human feces studied by stable isotope labeling (D and 13C). Effect of phytosterols and calcium.

A stable isotope labeling (13C and D) was administered to 8 subjects in order to observe the short-term effect of phytosterols (Cytellin 9 g/day) or calcium (calcium gluconate 3 g/day) on the processes involved in cholesterol elimination in the feces. Under control conditions, the mean fraction of fecal cholesterol having a plasmatic origin was 69% and that of cholesterol secreted by the digestive tract 11%. The remaining fraction represented unabsorbed dietary cholesterol. While both treatments reduced the absorption of cholesterol, Cytellin enhanced the fecal excretion of plasma cholesterol and calcium lowered it. The change observed in the rate of intestinal external secretion did not follow the change in the fecal excretion of cholesterol.

Adult↗

Application of a mechanistic model of bovine milk protein synthesis to examine the use of isotope labeling methods.

Two types of models of bovine milk protein synthesis were used to simulate collection and analysis of data from infusion experiments involving isotope-labeled amino acids (AA). Analytical solutions to a system of ordinary differential equations that describe isotope enrichment curves of each AA pool within the mammary gland were derived and are presented. Numerical solutions from a dynamic mechanistic model suggest that normal experimental procedures can affect the shape of enrichment curves and, therefore, results derived from them. Simulation results suggest that standard methods utilizing in vivo isotope kinetics may be of limited value to characterize the metabolism of the bovine mammary gland, especially AA metabolism and milk protein synthesis and secretion. The results clearly demonstrate the flexibility of such models for the testing of many hypotheses and possible experimental protocols.

Animals↗

Stable isotopically labeled internal standards in quantitative bioanalysis using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry: necessity or not?

It appears to be a general belief that stable isotopically labeled (SIL) internal standards yield better assay performance results for quantitative bioanalytical liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) assays than does any other internal standard. In this article we describe our experiences with structural analogues and SIL internal standards and their merits and demerits. SIL internal standards are the first choice, but deuterium-labeled compounds may demonstrate unexpected behavior, such as different retention times or recoveries, than the analyte. In addition, a SIL internal standard with identical chemical properties as the analyte may cover up assay problems with stability, recovery, and ion suppression. Since SIL internal standards are not always available or are very expensive, structural analogues can be used, however, with consideration of several issues, which are usually displayed during method validation.

Acetamides↗

Expression, purification, and isotope labeling of cannabinoid CB2 receptor fragment, CB2(180-233).

To develop an approach to obtain milligram quantities of purified isotope-labeled seven transmembrane G-protein coupled cannabinoid (CB) receptor for NMR structural analysis, we chose a truncated CB receptor fragment, CB2(180-233), spanning from the fifth transmembrane domain (TM5) to the associated loop regions of cannabinoid CB2 receptor. This highly hydrophobic membrane protein fragment was pursued for developmental studies of membrane proteins through expression and purification in Escherichia coli. The target peptide was cloned and over-expressed in a preparative scale as a fusion protein with a modified TrpDeltaLE1413 (TrpLE) leader sequence and a nine-histidine tag at its N-terminal. An experimental protocol for enzyme cleavage was developed by using Factor Xa to remove the TrpLE tag from the fusion protein. A purification process was also established using a nickel affinity column and reverse-phase HPLC, and then monitored by SDS-PAGE and MS. This expression level is one of the highest reported for a G-protein coupled receptor and fragments in E. Coli, and provided a sufficient amount of purified protein for further biophysical studies.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Neutron capture radiography: a technique for isotopic labelling and analytical imaging with a few stable isotopes.

NCR (neutron capture radiography) may be used successfully for the imaging of one of the stable isotopes of a few chemical elements (especially 6Li and 10B, possibly also 14N, 17O, and others) and for labelling experiments using these stable isotopes. Other physical techniques compete with NCR. However, NCR can remain extremely useful in a certain number of cases, because it is usually more easily done and is less expensive than the other techniques.

Boron↗

NMR study of 100 kDa HCV IRES RNA using segmental isotope labeling.

RNA NMR is hindered by the large size of most biological RNAs. We present here a simple method for segmental isotopic labeling of an RNA fragment within the context of a larger RNA. The methodology uses transcription and ribozyme cleavage to prepare appropriate ends for RNA ligase catalyzed ligation. We demonstrate that a 64 nucleotide domain of the Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA adopts an independently folded domain within the context of the intact, 100 kDa IRES.

Hepacivirus↗

High yield expression and purification of isotopically labelled human endothelin-1 for use in NMR studies.

Human endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasocontractile 21-residue peptide hormone with significant pharmacological importance. An efficient and straightforward expression strategy that enables cost-effective incorporation of stable isotopes is not available thus far. In this report, we describe a cost-effective expression system in Escherichia coli for the production of ET-1 enriched with (15)N and (13)C isotopes. Employing thioredoxin as carrier protein, specific and nearly quantitative cleavage of ET-1 from the fusion was mediated by Factor Xa, and purification to homogeneity (final purity of >95%) was achieved by RP-HPLC. Purified recombinant ET-1 was found to be indistinguishable from the synthetic counterpart as determined by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Our expression strategy offers the potential for production of isotopically labeled ET-1 in large (mg) quantities for the purpose of heteronuclear NMR experiments. Moreover, the method devised should be applicable for recombinant expression of small peptides in general.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Modification degrees at specific sites on heparan sulphate: an approach to measure chemical modifications on biological molecules with stable isotope labelling.

Chemical modification of biological molecules is a general mechanism for cellular regulation. A quantitative approach has been developed to measure the extent of modification on HS (heparan sulphates). Sulphation on HS by sulphotransferases leads to variable sulphation levels, which allows cells to tune their affinities to various extracellular proteins, including growth factors. With stable isotope labelling and HPLC-coupled MS, modification degrees at various O-sulphation sites could be determined. A bovine kidney HS sample was first saturated in vitro with 34S by an OST (O-sulphotransferase), then digested with nitrous acid and analysed with HPLC-coupled MS. The 34S-labelled oligosaccharides were identified based on their unique isotope clusters. The modification degrees at the sulphotransferase recognition sites were obtained by calculating the intensities of isotopic peaks in the isotope clusters. The modification degrees at 3-OST-1 and 6-OST-1 sites were examined in detail. This approach can also be used to study other types of chemical modifications on biological molecules.

Animals↗

Mass spectrometric measurements of norepinephrine synthesis in man from infusion of stable isotope-labelled L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine.

The kinetics of stable isotope-labelled L-threo-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylserine(L-threo-DOPS), an immediate precursor of (-)-norepinephrine, was studied to investigate the pharmacologic mechanism of its therapeutic effect on orthostatic hypotension in familial amyloid polyneuropathy(FAP) and on akinesia and freezing in parkinsonism. [13C,D]-L-threo-DOPS was synthesized, and 100 mg of the compound was infused for 2 h into two normal subjects, two FAP patients and two patients with the degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Labelled and endogenous norepinephrine in urine and plasma was assayed simultaneously by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the increase in norepinephrine in biological fluids after administration of L-threo-DOPS is attributable mostly to norepinephrine derived from L-threo-DOPS, not to pre-formed endogenous norepinephrine released by L-threo-DOPS.

Atrophy↗

Isotopically labeled crosslinking reagents: resolution of mass degeneracy in the identification of crosslinked peptides.

Mass spectrometry in three dimensions (MS3D) is a newly developed method for the determination of protein structures involving intramolecular chemical crosslinking of proteins, proteolytic digestion of the resulting adducts, identification of crosslinks by mass spectrometry (MS), peak assignment using theoretical mass lists, and computational reduction of crosslinks to a structure by distance geometry methods. To facilitate the unambiguous identification of crosslinked peptides from proteolytic digestion mixtures of crosslinked proteins by MS, we introduced double 18O isotopic labels into the crosslinking reagent to provide the crosslinked peptides with a characteristic isotope pattern. The presence of doublets separated by 4 Da in the mass spectra of these materials allowed ready discrimination between crosslinked and modified peptides, and uncrosslinked peptides using automated intelligent data acquisition (IDA) of MS/MS data. This should allow ready automation of the method for application to whole expressible proteomes.

Cross-Linking Reagents↗

Comparison of spectral counting and metabolic stable isotope labeling for use with quantitative microbial proteomics.

Spectral counting, a promising method for quantifying relative changes in protein abundance in mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis, was compared to metabolic stable isotope labeling using (15)N/(14)N "heavy/light" peptide pairs. The data were drawn primarily from a Methanococcus maripaludis experiment comparing a wild-type strain with a mutant deficient in a key enzyme relevant to energy metabolism. The dataset contained both proteome and transcriptome measurements. The normalization technique used previously for the isotopic measurements was inappropriate for spectral counting, but a simple adjustment for sampling frequency was sufficient for normalization. This adjustment was satisfactory both for M. maripaludis, an organism that showed relatively little expression change between the wild-type and mutant strains, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, an intracellular pathogen that has demonstrated widespread changes between intracellular and extracellular conditions. Spectral counting showed lower overall sensitivity defined in terms of detecting a two-fold change in protein expression, and in order to achieve the same level of quantitative proteome coverage as the stable isotope method, it would have required approximately doubling the number of mass spectra collected.

Animals↗

Probing in vivo metabolism by stable isotope labeling of storage lipids and proteins in developing Brassica napus embryos.

Developing embryos of Brassica napus accumulate both triacylglycerols and proteins as major storage reserves. To evaluate metabolic fluxes during embryo development, we have established conditions for stable isotope labeling of cultured embryos under steady-state conditions. Sucrose supplied via the endosperm is considered to be the main carbon and energy source for seed metabolism. However, in addition to 220 to 270 mM carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose, and fructose), analysis of endosperm liquid revealed up to 70 mM amino acids as well as 6 to 15 mM malic acid. Therefore, a labeling approach with multiple carbon sources is a precondition to quantitatively reflect fluxes of central carbon metabolism in developing embryos. Mid-cotyledon stage B. napus embryos were dissected from plants and cultured for 15 d on a complex liquid medium containing (13)C-labeled carbohydrates. The (13)C enrichment of fatty acids and amino acids (after hydrolysis of the seed proteins) was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Analysis of (13)C isotope isomers of labeled fatty acids and plastid-derived amino acids indicated that direct glycolysis provides at least 90% of precursors of plastid acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA). Unlabeled amino acids, when added to the growth medium, did not reduce incorporation of (13)C label into plastid-formed fatty acids, but substantially diluted (13)C label in seed protein. Approximately 30% of carbon in seed protein was derived from exogenous amino acids and as a consequence, the use of amino acids as a carbon source may have significant influence on the total carbon and energy balance in seed metabolism. (13)C label in the terminal acetate units of C(20) and C(22) fatty acids that derive from cytosolic acetyl-CoA was also significantly diluted by unlabeled amino acids. We conclude that cytosolic acetyl-CoA has a more complex biogenetic origin than plastidic acetyl-CoA. Malic acid in the growth medium did not dilute (13)C label incorporation into fatty acids or proteins and can be ruled out as a source of carbon for the major storage components of B. napus embryos.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies using uniformly stable isotope labeled proteins with HPLC/CRIMS detection.

We present a novel method for performing pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies on macromolecules that offers advantages over the existing techniques of radiolabeling, immunoassay or bioassays. Our strategy uses macromolecules with stable isotopes uniformly distributed throughout the structure. The stable isotope enrichment is detected using high performance liquid chromatography combined with chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry (HPLC/CRIMS). HPLC/CRIMS is a technique where analytes are first eluted from an HPLC column and then dissociated in a microwave reaction chamber. The dissociated analytes are oxidized using SO2 and the resulting small molecules are detected by the mass spectrometer. The stable-isotope labeled analyte is distinguished from the matrix carbon by monitoring the enrichment of 13CO2. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of performing pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies using this technique, uniformly 13C, 15N-labeled rat growth hormone was administered intravenously to rats and blood samples were collected. Raw plasma samples were analysed by HPLC/CRIMS. Growth hormone was detectable for 1 h following administration. The absolute amounts detected ranged from a high of 66 pmol to a low of 825 fmol in a 20 microL plasma sample. The data were modeled using PCNONLIN and were consistent with a one compartment model. The calculated half-life was 7.7 +/- 0.7 min, with a clearance of 4.5 +/- 0.3 mL min(-1), values consistent with literature reports for growth hormone in rats. No circulating growth hormone metabolites were detected in the plasma. This paper demonstrates a novel technique for performing pharmacokinetic studies of proteins. The uniform labeling strategy also presents a viable comprehensive method for obtaining metabolism data on macromolecules.

Animals↗

Preparation of isotopically labeled ribonucleotides for multidimensional NMR spectroscopy of RNA.

A general method for large scale preparation of uniformly isotopically labeled ribonucleotides and RNAs is described. Bacteria are grown on isotopic growth medium, and their nucleic acids are harvested and degraded to mononucleotides. These are enzymatically converted into ribonucleoside triphosphates, which are used in transcription reactions in vitro to prepare RNAs for NMR studies. For 15N-labeling, E.coli is grown on 15N-ammonium sulfate, whereas for 13C-labeling, Methylophilus methylotrophus is grown on 13C-methanol, which is more economical than 13C-glucose. To demonstrate the feasibility and utility of this method, uniformly 13C-labeled ribonucleotides were used to synthesize a 31 nucleotide HIV TAR RNA that was analyzed by 3D-NMR. This method should find widespread use in the structural analysis of RNA by NMR.

Carbon Isotopes↗