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Results for “Protein Stability”

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PubMed2006

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch controls the protein stability of p63.

p63, a member of the p53 family of transcription factors, plays an important role in epithelial development, regulating both cell cycle and apoptosis. Even though p63 activity is regulated mainly at the posttranslational level, the control of p63 protein stability is far from being fully understood. Here, we show that the Hect (homologous to the E6-associated protein C terminus)-containing Nedd4-like ubiquitin protein ligase Itch binds, ubiquitylates, and promotes the degradation of p63. The physical interaction occurs at the border between the PY and the SAM (sterile alpha motif) domains; a single Y504F mutation significantly affects p63 degradation. Itch and p63 are coexpressed in the epidermis and in primary keratinocytes where Itch controls the p63 protein steady-state level. Accordingly, p63 protein levels are significantly increased in Itch knockout keratinocytes. These data suggest that Itch has a fundamental role in the mechanism that controls endogenous p63 protein levels and therefore contributes to regulation of p63 in physiological conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Conformational changes in the extrinsic manganese stabilizing protein can occur upon binding to the photosystem II reaction center: an isotope editing and FT-IR study.

Photosystem II catalyzes the light-driven oxidation of water and reduction of plastoquinone in oxygenic photosynthesis. The manganese stabilizing protein (MSP) of photosystem II is an extrinsic subunit that plays an important role in catalytic activity. This subunit can be extracted and re-bound to the photosystem II reaction center. Extraction is associated with decreased stability of manganese binding by the enzyme and by loss in high rates of oxygen evolution activity; reconstitution reverses these phenomena. Since little is known about the assembly of complex membrane proteins, we have employed isotope editing and vibrational spectroscopy to obtain information about any changes in secondary structure that occur in MSP upon functional reconstitution to photosystem II. The spectroscopic data obtained are consistent with substantial changes in conformation when MSP binds to photosystem II; approximately 30-40% of the peptide backbone undergoes a change in secondary structure. These conclusions were reached by comparing different aliquots, before and after binding, of the same 13[C]MSP sample. Analysis of amide I band line shapes through Fourier deconvolution and nonlinear regression suggests that binding of MSP to photosystem II is associated with a decrease in random structure and an increase in beta-sheet content. We conclude that binding of MSP to the reaction center can induce folding of MSP. Our results also indicate that, in solution, MSP can sample a variety of conformational states, which differ in hydrogen bonding of the peptide backbone.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed1981

Mechanism of polyol-induced protein stabilization: solubility of amino acids and diglycine in aqueous polyol solutions.

The solubilities of several amino acids and diglycine have been measured in water and at several concentrations of methanol and various polyols (glycerol, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and inositol). The solubility data were used to calculate the free energy of transfer of amino acid side chains and peptide group from water to the aqueous alcohol solutions. The results for methanol systems were similar to those reported for ethanol and dioxane systems. The free energy of transfer to aqueous solutions of linear polyols was positive for most nonpolar side chains and peptide group, but high concentrations of the polyols may disrupt the hydrophobic interactions of large nonpolar side chains. Moreover, the linear polyols appeared to stabilize the hydrophobic interaction more effectively and the peptide-peptide hydrogen bond less effectively with increasing hydroxymethyl chain length of polyols. A cyclic polyol, inositol, had a very strong stabilizing ability on hydrophobic interactions of nonpolar side chains, but it may act as a destabilizing reagent for peptide-peptide hydrogen bonds. From these results, it was concluded that the protein stabilization by polyols is a manifestation of polyol-induced strengthening of the hydrophobic interaction of protein molecules.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1994

Characterization of covalently bound enzyme inhibitors as transition-state analogs by protein stability measurements: phosphonate monoester inhibitors of a beta-lactamase.

An experimental method is described for determining whether a covalent enzyme-inhibitor complex has the properties expected of a transition-state analog. The method involves a comparison of the noncovalent interaction energies between the enzyme and the inhibitor on one hand (determined from protein denaturation thermodynamics) and the analogous transition state on the other (determined from kinetic measurements). These two quantities should presumably be large (in comparison with the interaction energies of substrates or reaction intermediates) and close to equal for a good transition state analog; the former is seen dramatically in a large increase in protein stability. The method is absolute in the sense that it does not require a crystal structure of the inhibited enzyme or any preconceptions as to the mechanism of action of the enzyme except those which led to adoption of the potential transition state analog and which might turn out to be right or wrong. In this paper the method is quantitatively applied to the inhibition of the Staphylococcus aureus PC1 beta-lactamase by phosphonate monoesters. It is concluded that the enzyme-inhibitor complex in this case is likely to be a good transition-state mimic. Therefore, mechanistic interpretation of the crystal structure of the complex can be made with more confidence. A semiquantitative assessment of the situation with serine proteinases is also made. It is concluded, in agreement with predictions based on the generally accepted mechanism and on crystal structures, that anionic, but not neutral, phosph(or/on)yl derivatives are good transition-state analogs.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

Transforming ability of Gag-Myc fusion proteins correlates with Gag-Myc protein stability and transcriptional repression.

Avian retroviruses that have transduced c-myc are useful tools to study the conditions necessary for cellular transformation. FH3, one such retrovirus which encodes a Gag-Myc fusion protein, is not transforming in quail embryonic fibroblasts, but a late variant of FH3 that arose after passaging FH3-infected cells is transforming. Mutational analysis of FH3 revealed that the presence of a portion of the retroviral protease in FH3 inhibited transformation and that this inhibition was transferable to a more highly transforming retrovirus, MC29. Transforming and non-transforming FH3-derived and MC29-derived Gag-Myc proteins were used to further explore characteristics of Myc necessary for transformation. Gag-Myc proteins which were transforming were found to be the most stable in the cell. To distinguish whether transactivation and/or repression is correlated to transformation, the various Gag-Myc fusion proteins were tested for their ability to activate or repress c-Myc targets. Results indicated that a correlation exists between transforming Gag-Myc proteins and their ability to repress, whereas all Gag-Myc proteins could transactivate, regardless of their ability to transform. Taken together, these results suggest that protein stabilization of Myc and repression of target genes by Myc are important for cellular transformation.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

The hydration structure of guanidinium and thiocyanate ions: implications for protein stability in aqueous solution.

Neutron diffraction experiments were carried out on aqueous solutions containing either guanidinium or thiocyanate ions. The first-order difference method of neutron diffraction and isotopic substitution was applied, and the hydration structures of two of nature's strongest denaturant ions were determined. Each ion is shown to interact weakly with water: Guanidinium has no recognizable hydration shell and is one of the most weakly hydrated cations yet characterized. Hydration of thiocyanate is characterized by a low coordination number involving around one hydrogen-bonded water molecule and approximately two water molecules weakly interacting through "hydration bonds." The weak hydration of these denaturant ions strongly supports suggestions that a major contribution to the denaturant effect is the preferential interaction of the denaturant with the protein surface. By contrast, solute species such as many sugars and related polyols that stabilize proteins are strongly hydrated and are thus preferentially retained in the bulk solvent and excluded from the protein surface.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

PubMed1991

Contribution of the hydrophobic effect to protein stability: analysis based on simulations of the Ile-96----Ala mutation in barnase.

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to compute the difference in the unfolding free energy between wild-type barnase and the mutant in which Ile-96 is replaced by alanine. The simulations yield results (-3.42 and -5.21 kcal/mol) that compare favorably with experimental values (-3.3 and -4.0 kcal/mol). The major contributions to the free energy difference arise from bonding terms involving degrees of freedom of the mutated side chain and from nonbonded interactions of that side chain with its environment in the folded protein. By comparison with simulations of an extended peptide in the absence of solvent, used as a reference state, hydration effects are shown to play a minor role in the overall free energy balance for the Ile----Ala transformation. The implications of these results for our understanding of the hydrophobic effect and its contribution to protein stability are discussed.

Alanine↗

PubMed1993

Contribution of buried hydrogen bonds to protein stability. The crystal structures of two barnase mutants.

The crystal structures of two barnase mutants, Tyr78-->Phe and Ser91-->Ala, have been determined to 2.2 A resolution. In both cases, a buried hydroxyl group that makes two hydrogen bonds within the protein was replaced by a hydrogen atom. It is found that neither mutation causes any structural changes, within the limits of error, compared with wild-type and so are confirmed to be non-disruptive. Solvent molecules are not observed in the cavities created by removal of the respective hydroxyl groups and no new interactions are introduced. The local water structure surrounding both sites of mutation is well conserved and resembles that of the wild-type. All four water molecules making contacts with the side-chain of residue 78 and two water molecules nearest to residue 91 in the wild-type are found within a sphere of 0.5 A radius, at the equivalent positions of the respective mutant. No new water molecules are found bound to any of the hydrogen bond donor or acceptor residues involved in these two mutation sites. Previous protein engineering experiments established that the solvent-inaccessible phenolic OH of Tyr78 that makes hydrogen bonds with two uncharged groups (main-chain NH and CO) contributes 1.4 kcal mol-1 to protein stability, while the solvent-inaccessible OH of Ser91 that makes hydrogen bonds with an uncharged main-chain NH and a charged group (O gamma 1) contributes 1.9 kcal mol-1. These stability measurements can now be attributed primarily to the loss of the hydrogen bonding interactions because both mutations neither disrupt the respective protein and local solvent structures, upset the overall hydrogen bonding pattern nor introduce new interactions. The mutations Tyr78-->Phe and Ser91-->Ala are thus good examples of "non-disruptive deletions" and the results of mutagenesis can be analysed at the simplest level.

Bacillus↗

PubMed2005

CD95-mediated alteration in Hsp70 levels is dependent on protein stabilization.

Engagement of death receptors induces caspase activation and apoptosis. A recent study reported altered protein expression, including increased Hsp70 levels during CD95-mediated apoptosis. Here, we examined the mechanism underlying increased Hsp70 levels in cells challenged with a monoclonal antibody directed against the CD95 receptor. Levels of Hsp70 were found to increase in a dose-dependent manner, occurring independently of either heat shock factor 1 activation or the accumulation of Hsp70 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), suggesting the involvement of posttranslational modifications. Inhibition of translation and de novo protein synthesis by cycloheximide resulted in Hsp70 protein levels diminishing over time in control cells, whereas its level remained constant during CD95 signaling. In addition, death receptor activation through exposure of cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand did not alter Hsp70 levels. These findings demonstrate that receptor-specific signaling through the CD95 increases the stability of Hsp70 protein, rather than mRNA, when compared with control cells. The results describe a novel mechanism of heat shock protein accumulation, where increased protein stability and reduced turnover, is the mechanism by which Hsp70 accumulates in cells during CD95-mediated apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2006

[Effects of yisui shengxue granules on expressions of alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein and erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 mRNAs in bone marrow of patients with beta-thalassemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Yisui Shengxue Granules on expressions of alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) and erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 mRNAs in bone marrow of patients with beta-thalassemia, and to explore its possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: Twelve patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia were treated with Yisui Shengxue Granules for three months. The blood indexes including hemoglobin (Hb), RBC, fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and reticulated corpuscles (Ret) were examined before and after treatment. Total RNA was extracted from bone marrow karyocyte in 8 patients selected from these 12 patients before and after treatment, and the expression levels of the AHSP and GATA-1 mRNAs were measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Yisui Shengxue Granules could not only obviously improve the clinical symptoms of patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia, but also obviously increased the contents of Hb, RBC, HbF and Ret (P<0.05, or P<0.01). The expression levels of AHSP and GATA-1 mRNAs also significantly increased after treatment as compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results revealed that one of the possible molecular mechanism of the effects caused by Yisui Shengxue Granules is that it can up-regulate the expression levels of AHSP and erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 mRNAs, enhance the protein synthesis of AHSP which can bind the relative excess free alpha-globin, prevent the formation of alpha -globin-cytotoxic precipitates in red blood cells and decrease the hemolysis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Coalescence of Protein-Stabilized Emulsions in a High-Pressure Homogenizer

Coalescence rate constants in a high-pressure homogenizer were inferred for pure emulsions of a neutrally buoyant mixture of carbon tetrachloride and benzene dispersed in aqueous medium, as well as for emulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate or whey protein, from the temporal evolution of number of drops per unit volume in the exit stream of the homogenizer in a recirculating system consisting of the homogenizer and a stirred tank when subjected to a negative step change in applied homogenizer pressure (Ph). The homogenization pressure was varied in the range 6.9 to 41.4 MPa, pH in the range 5 to 7, dispersed phase fraction in the range 0.05 to 0.15, ionic strength in the range 0.01 to 0.05 M, and protein concentration in the range 0.01 to 0.05 wt%. Functional dependence of drop coalescence rate on the homogenizer pressure was derived for pure emulsions for mechanisms of drop collisions due both to turbulence and to shear. The inferred collision rate constant for pure emulsions was found to be proportional to Ph0.722, which was closer to the functional dependence for drop collisions due to turbulence. The coalescence rate constant was found to be higher for higher homogenizer pressures, larger drop sizes, and higher dispersed phase fractions. For emulsions stabilized by proteins, drop coalescence rate constant was found to be higher at lower protein concentrations, near the isoelectric point of the protein, and higher ionic strengths because of the smaller interdroplet colloidal repulsive forces, thus clearly demonstrating the effect of colloidal forces on drop coalescence. Sodium caseinate was found to result in a lower coalescence rate constant than whey protein.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Nuclear export is evolutionarily conserved in CVC paired-like homeobox proteins and influences protein stability, transcriptional activation, and extracellular secretion.

Homeodomain transcription factors control a variety of essential cell fate decisions during development. To understand the developmental regulation by these transcription factors, we describe here the molecular analysis of paired-like CVC homeodomain protein (PLC-HDP) trafficking. Complementary experimental approaches demonstrated that PLC-HDP family members are exported by the Crm1 pathway and contain an evolutionary conserved leucine-rich nuclear export signal. Importantly, inactivation of the nuclear export signal enhanced protein stability, resulting in increased transactivation of transfected reporters and decreased extracellular secretion. In addition, PLC-HDPs harbor a conserved active nuclear import signal that could also function as a protein transduction domain. In our study, we characterized PLC-HDPs as mobile nucleocytoplasmic shuttle proteins with the potential for unconventional secretion and intercellular transfer. Nucleocytoplasmic transport may thus represent a conserved control mechanism to fine-tune the transcriptional activity of PLC-HDPs prerequisite for regulating and maintaining the complex expression pattern during development.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed1988

Stability, protein binding and clearance studies of [99mTc]DTPA. Evaluation of a commercially available dry-kit.

[99mTc]DTPA has achieved widespread use for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with the single injection plasma clearance technique and for gamma-camera renography. However, the quality of the commercial preparations varies. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the quality of a commercial [99mTc]DTPA preparation (C.I.S., France) with reference to stability, protein binding and accuracy of the determined plasma clearance values as a measure of GFR. The stability of the preparations was studied by thin-layer chromatography, the in vitro protein binding by Sephadex filtration after incubation with human serum albumin and in vivo protein binding by filtration of human plasma. The accuracy of the plasma clearance values was investigated by comparison with the simultaneously measured plasma clearance of [51Cr]EDTA. There was no detectable free pertechnetate or hydrolysed reduced technetium in eight vials five and six hours after the preparation. The in vitro protein binding 10 (20), 120 and 300 min after the preparation of eight vials was 2.3% (0.8%), 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. The in vivo protein binding in 12 patients 5, 90 and 180 min after the injection was 0.3%, 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively. The plasma clearance of [99mTc]DTPA was on an average 3.7% higher than that of [51Cr]EDTA in 27 patients. It is concluded that the [99mTc]DTPA preparation is reliable for the measurement of GFR. The preparation is stable for at least six hours at room temperature. It is recommended not to use the [99mTc]DTPA until 30 min after the preparation.

Chromatography, Gel↗

PubMed1984

Protein stabilization and destabilization by guanidinium salts.

Preferential interactions of bovine serum albumin were measured with guanidine sulfate, guanidine acetate, and guanidine hydrochloride. The results showed an increasing preferential hydration with increasing salt concentration for the sulfate, positive preferential salt binding for the hydrochloride, and an intermediate situation for the acetate. These results correlate well with the known effects of the three salts on protein stability, namely, the stabilizing effect of guanidine sulfate and the denaturing effect of guanidine hydrochloride. Comparison of guanidinium and magnesium salts indicated that the substitution of guanidinium ion for Mg2+ decreases the preferential hydration and increases the preferential salt binding, suggesting that the perturbation by guanidinium ion binding of the surface free energy is greater than that by Mg2+ ion. It was concluded that guanidine salts are not a special class, but their activity toward proteins is modulated by the same fine balance between hydration and salt binding to protein as in the case of other salts, with the second factor being stronger in guanidine salts.

Acetates↗

PubMed1998

Growth phase and temperature influence promoter activity, transcript abundance, and protein stability during biosynthesis of the Pseudomonas syringae phytotoxin coronatine.

The plant-pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea PG4180.N9 synthesizes high levels of the polyketide phytotoxin coronatine (COR) at 18 degrees C, whereas no detectable toxin is produced at 28 degrees C. Previously, we reported that the temperature-sensitive activation of three promoters within the COR biosynthetic gene cluster might explain thermoregulation of COR biosynthesis. The present study was aimed at furthering our understanding of the transcriptional as well as the posttranslational effects of temperature on expression of cmaB, which encodes an enzyme involved in COR biosynthesis. Transcriptional fusions using a promoterless glucuronidase gene and Northern blot analyses were used to monitor promoter activities and transcript abundance for the cmaABT operon during bacterial growth at 18 and 28 degrees C. Promoter activity and transcription rates were maximal when cells were incubated at 18 degrees C and sampled at mid-logarithmic phase. Transcription declined moderately during the transition to stationary phase but remained higher at 18 C than at 28 degrees C. Western blot analysis indicated that CmaB accumulated in the late stationary phase of P. syringae cultures grown at 18 degrees C but not in cultures incubated at 28 degrees C. Temperature shift experiments indicated that CmaB stability was more pronounced at 18 degrees C than at 28 degrees C. Although temperature has a strong impact on transcription of COR biosynthetic genes, we propose that thermoregulation of protein stability might also control COR synthesis.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2006

A conserved pathway that controls c-Myc protein stability through opposing phosphorylation events occurs in yeast.

The c-Myc transcription factor is a key regulator of cell proliferation and cell fate decisions. c-Myc overexpression is observed in a variety of human tumors, revealing the importance of maintaining normal levels of c-Myc protein. c-Myc protein stability in mammalian cells is controlled by interdependent and sequential phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events on two highly conserved residues, serine 62 and threonine 58. Here we show that these sequential phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events and their effect on c-Myc stability also occurs in the model system Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These results suggest the presence of a conserved pathway in yeast that controls protein turnover in response to a specific phospho-degron sequence. These findings have implications regarding conserved pathways for regulated protein degradation, and they validate the use of genetically tractable yeast for the study of the turnover of proteins such as c-Myc that contain this motif.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2006

SUMO-1 controls the protein stability and the biological function of phosducin.

Phosducin regulates Gbetagamma-stimulated signaling by binding to Gbetagamma subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins. Control of phosducin activity by phosphorylation is well established. However, little is known about other mechanisms that may control phosducin activity. Here we report that phosducin is regulated at the posttranslational level by modification with the small ubiquitin-related modifier, SUMO. We demonstrate modification with SUMO for phosducin in vitro expressed in cells and for native phosducin purified from retina and the heart. A consensus motif for SUMOylation was identified in phosducin at amino acid positions 32-35. Mutation of the conserved lysine 33 to arginine in this motif abolished SUMOylation of phosducin, indicating that SUMO is attached to lysine 33 of phosducin. In transfected cells the steady-state levels of the K33R mutant protein were much lower compared with wild-type phosducin. The investigation of the stability of wild-type phosducin and of phosducinK33R showed a decreased protein stability of the SUMOylation-deficient mutant. The decreased protein stability correlated with increased ubiquitinylation of the SUMOylation-deficient mutant. These findings indicate that SUMOylation protects phosducin from proteasomal degradation. SUMOylation of phosducin decreased its ability to bind Gbetagamma. PhlP, a closely related member of the phosducin family, was not a target for SUMOylation, but its SUMOylation can be achieved by a single amino acid insertion in the conserved N terminus of PhlP. Together, these findings show that phosducin is a previously unrecognized target of SUMO modification and that SUMOylation controls phosducin stability in cells as well as its functional properties.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2006

Amphiphilic polyanhydrides for protein stabilization and release.

The overall goal of this research is to design novel amphiphilic biodegradable systems based on polyanhydrides for the stabilization and sustained release of peptides and proteins. Accordingly, copolymers of the anhydrides, 1,6-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)hexane (CPH) and 1,8-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-3,6-dioxaoctane (CPTEG), which are monomer-containing oligomeric ethylene glycol moieties, have been synthesized. Microspheres of different CPTEG:CPH compositions have been fabricated by two non-aqueous methods: solid/oil/oil double emulsion and cryogenic atomization. The ability of this amphiphilic polymeric system to stabilize model proteins (i.e., lysozyme and ovalbumin) was investigated. The structure of both the encapsulated as well as the released protein was monitored using gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that the CPTEG:CPH system preserves the structural hierarchy of the encapsulated proteins. Activity studies of the released protein indicate the CPTEG:CPH system retains the biological activity of the released protein. These results are promising for future in vivo studies, which involve the design of novel biodegradable polyanhydride carriers for the stabilization and sustained release of therapeutic peptides and proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗