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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Slow anion exchange, conformational equilibria, and fluorescent sensing in venus flytrap aminopyridinium-based anion hosts.

The synthesis, anion binding, and conformational properties of a series of 3-aminopyridinium-based, tripodal, tricationic hosts for anions are described. Slow anion and conformational exchange on the (1)H NMR time scale at low temperature, coupled with NMR titration, results in a high level of understanding of the anion-binding properties of the compounds, particularly with respect to significant conformational change resulting from induced fit complexation. Peak selectivity for halides, particularly Cl(-), is observed. The approach has been extended to dipodal and tripodal podands based on 3-aminopyridinium "arms" containing photoactive anthracenyl moieties. The 1,3,5-tripodal host shows a remarkable selectivity for acetate over other anions, in contrast to the analogous unsubstituted tris(3-aminopyridinium) analogue, despite the fact that low-temperature (1)H NMR experiments reveal a total of four acetate-binding conformations. Photodimerization of anthracene units results in the formation of potential fluorescent anion sensors.

Journal Article↗

NMR evidence for mechanical coupling of phosphate B(I)-B(II) transitions with deoxyribose conformational exchange in DNA.

The conformational exchange of the phosphate and deoxyribose groups of the DNA oligomers d(GCGTACGC)(2) and d(CGCTAGCG)(2) have been investigated using a combination of homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR techniques. Two-state exchange between phosphate B(I) and B(II) conformations and deoxyribose N and S conformations was expressed as percent population of the major conformer, %B(I) or %S. Sequence context-dependent variations in %B(I) and %S were observed. The positions of the phosphate and deoxyribose equilibria provide a quantitative measure of the ps to ns timescale dynamic exchange processes in the DNA backbone. Linear correlations between %B(I), %S, and previously calculated model free (13)C order parameters (S(2)) were observed. The %B(I) of the phosphates were found to be correlated to the S(2) of the flanking C3' and C4' atoms. The %B(I) was also found to be correlated with the %S and C1' S(2) of the deoxyribose ring 5' of the phosphates. The %B(I) of opposing phosphates is correlated, while the %B(I) of sequential phosphates is anti-correlated. These correlations suggest that conformational exchange processes in DNA are coupled to each other and are modulated by DNA base sequence, which may have important implications for DNA-protein interactions.

Base Sequence↗

Human type-alpha transforming growth factor undergoes slow conformational exchange between multiple backbone conformations as characterized by nitrogen-15 relaxation measurements.

Human type-alpha transforming growth factor (hTGF alpha) is a small mitogenic protein containing 50 amino acids and three disulfide bonds. It has both sequence and structural homology with epidermal growth factor (EGF). While the three-dimensional structures of hTGF alpha and other EGF-like proteins have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about conformational dynamics of these molecules. In this paper we describe nuclear relaxation measurements which probe the molecular dynamics of hTGF alpha in aqueous solution at neutral pH. In order to characterize conformational dynamics of hTGF alpha on both the fast (i.e., sub-nanosecond) and intermediate nitrogen-15 chemical-exchange (i.e., microsecond) time scales, we measured nitrogen-15 relaxation parameters at pH 7.1 +/- 0.1 and a temperature of 30 +/- 0.5 degrees C. Measurements of nitrogen-15 longitudinal (R1) and transverse (R2) relaxation rates, and 1H-15N heteronuclear NOE effects, were then interpreted using an extended Lipari-Szabo analysis [Lipari, G., & Szabo, A. (1982) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104, 4546-4559; Clore, G. M., Szabo, A., Bax, A., Kay, L. E., Driscoll, P. C., & Gronenborn, A. M. (1990) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112, 4989-4991] to provide estimates of the locations and amplitudes of fast internal motions and the locations of nitrogen-15 chemical-exchange line broadening. These results demonstrate that, under conditions of pH and temperature at which it is tightly bound by the EGF receptor, hTGF alpha is a highly dynamic molecule. Indeed, some 40% of the backbone amide groups of hTGF alpha, including many at the interface between the two subdomains, exhibit significant nitrogen-15 chemical-exchange line broadening indicative of interconversions between multiple protein conformations on the microsecond time scale. The distribution of these sites on the three-dimensional protein structure suggests that these dynamic fluctuations are due to (i) partial unfolding of the core beta-sheet, (ii) hinge-bending motions between the N- and C-terminal subdomains, and/or (iii) disulfide bond isomerization in the solution structure of hTGF alpha at neutral pH.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Quantitative analysis of conformational exchange contributions to 1H-15N multiple-quantum relaxation using field-dependent measurements. Time scale and structural characterization of exchange in a calmodulin C-terminal domain mutant.

Multiple-quantum spin relaxation is a sensitive probe for correlated conformational exchange dynamics on microsecond to millisecond time scales in biomolecules. We measured differential 1H-15N multiple-quantum relaxation rates for the backbone amide groups of the E140Q mutant of the C-terminal domain of calmodulin at three static magnetic field strengths. The differential multiple-quantum relaxation rates range between -88.7 and 92.7 s(-1), and the mean and standard deviation are 7.0 +/- 24 s(-1), at a static magnetic field strength of 14.1 T. Together with values of the 1H and 15N chemical shift anisotropies (CSA) determined separately, the field-dependent data enable separation of the different contributions from dipolar-dipolar, CSA-CSA, and conformational exchange cross-correlated relaxation mechanisms to the differential multiple-quantum relaxation rates. The procedure yields precise quantitative information on the dominant conformational exchange contributions observed in this protein. The field-dependent differences between double- and zero-quantum relaxation rates directly benchmark the rates of conformational exchange, showing that these are fast on the chemical shift time scale for the large majority of residues in the protein. Further analysis of the differential 1H-15N multiple-quantum relaxation rates using previously determined exchange rate constants and populations, obtained from 15N off-resonance rotating-frame relaxation data, enables extraction of the product of the chemical shift differences between the resonance frequencies of the 1H and 15N spins in the exchanging conformations, deltasigma(H)deltasigma(N). Thus, information on the 1H chemical shift differences is obtained, while circumventing complications associated with direct measurements of conformational exchange effects on 1H single-quantum coherences in nondeuterated proteins. The method significantly increases the information content available for structural interpretation of the conformational exchange process, partly because deltasigma(H)deltasigma(N) is a signed quantity, and partly because two chemical shifts are probed simultaneously. The present results support the hypothesis that the exchange in the calcium-loaded state of the E140Q mutant involves conformations similar to those of the wild-type apo (closed) and calcium-loaded (open) states.

Calmodulin↗

Complete relaxation and conformational exchange matrix (CORCEMA) analysis of NOESY spectra of interacting systems; two-dimensional transferred NOESY.

A very general procedure entitled complete relaxation and conformational exchange matrix (CORCEMA) analysis has been developed to analyze the 2D-NOESY spectra of interacting systems undergoing multistate conformational exchange. This is an extension of earlier work from this laboratory on the methodological treatment of multistate conformational exchange [Krishna et al., Biopolymers 19, 2003 (1980)] and the theory of transferred NOESY for finite exchange off-rates [Lee and Krishna, J. Magn. Reson. 98, 36 (1992)]. The current theory is based on generalized rate matrices for relaxation and conformational exchange. The CORCEMA algorithm explicitly incorporates intermolecular dipolar cross relaxation between the molecules when they are complexed. It permits an analysis of NOESY intensities for the intra- as well as intermolecular contacts between the interacting molecules under a variety of binding conditions. Its application is illustrated on two examples of transferred NOESY simulations: (1) a two-state system involving a ligand and an enzyme forming a ligand-enzyme complex, and (2) a three-state system in which the ligand-enzyme complex can undergo a conformational transition from an "open state" to a "closed state," and can include conformational changes in both the complexed ligand and the complexed enzyme, such as hinge-bending motions. Simplifying expressions for generalized matrix analyses are derived for three limiting cases of the three-state system. This three-state example is illustrated using a hypothetical model of the hinge-bending motion in a thermolysin-inhibitor complex. It is shown that: (1) The neglect of cross relaxation between the interacting species in their complexed forms can lead to misleading conclusions on the "bound" conformation of the ligand. (2) If protein-mediated spin diffusion is dominant, caution is needed in analyses based on initial slopes alone due to one's inability to identify the exact range of the initial growth curve under poor signal/noise situations. (3) The neglect of conformational changes upon complexation, e.g., hinge-bending motions of the ligand-enzyme complex, can lead to erroneous results on the nature of "bound" conformations of the ligand. In this case, attempts to analyze the transferred NOESY data with a two-state model will result in a "virtual" conformation for the bound ligand. (4) When the hinge-bending rate is slower than the cross relaxation and enzyme off-rates, the bound conformation of a ligand deduced from the transferred NOESY experiment is more likely to represent nonspecific or weak binding in an open state of the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Algorithms↗

Effects of troponin I phosphorylation on conformational exchange in the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C.

Conformational exchange has been demonstrated within the regulatory domain of calcium-saturated cardiac troponin C when bound to the NH2-terminal domain of cardiac troponin I-(1-80), and cardiac troponin I-(1-80)DD, having serine residues 23 and 24 mutated to aspartate to mimic the phosphorylated form of the protein. Binding of cardiac troponin I-(1-80) decreases conformational exchange for residues 29, 32, and 34. Comparison of average transverse cross correlation rates show that both the NH2- and COOH-terminal domains of cardiac troponin C tumble with similar correlation times when bound to cardiac troponin I-(1-80). In contrast, the NH2- and COOH-terminal domains in free cardiac troponin C and cardiac troponin C bound cardiac troponin I-(1-80)DD tumble independently. These results suggest that the nonphosphorylated cardiac specific NH2 terminus of cardiac troponin I interacts with the NH2-terminal domain of cardiac troponin C.

Aspartic Acid↗

Characterization of the high-resolution ESR spectra of superoxide radical adducts of 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO) and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). Analysis of conformational exchange.

It has been previously reported that the spin trap 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO) can form stable radical adducts with superoxide radical. However, the presence of diastereomers of DEPMPO radical adducts and the appearance of superhyperfine structure complicates the interpretation of the ESR spectra. It has been suggested that the superhyperfine structure in the ESR spectrum of DEPMPO/*OOH is a result of conformational exchange between conformers. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the ESR spectrum of DEPMPO/*OOH and of its structural analog DMPO/*OOH have demonstrated that both ESR spectra contain exchange effects resulting from conversion between two conformers. Computer simulation calculates a conformer lifetime on the order of 0.1 micros for DMPO/*OOH at room temperature. However, temperature dependence of the ESR spectrum of DEPMPO/*OOH suggests that superhyperfine structure does not depend on the conformational exchange. We have now found that the six-line ESR spectrum with superhyperfine structure should be assigned to a DEPMPO-superoxide-derived decomposition product. Therefore, ESR spectra previously assigned to DEPMPO/*OOH contain not only the two diastereomers of DEPMPO/*OOH but also the decomposition product, and these spectra should be simulated as a combination of four species: two conformers of the first diastereomer, one conformer of the second diastereomer and the superoxide-derived decomposition product. The presence of four species has been supported by the temperature dependence of the ESR spectra, nucleophilic synthesis of radical adducts, and isotopic substitution experiments. It is clear that to correctly interpret DEPMPO spin trapping of superoxide radicals, one must carefully consider formation of secondary radical adducts.

Computer Simulation↗

Characterization of micros-ms dynamics of proteins using a combined analysis of 15N NMR relaxation and chemical shift: conformational exchange in plastocyanin induced by histidine protonations.

An approach is presented that allows a detailed, quantitative characterization of conformational exchange processes in proteins on the micros-ms time scale. The approach relies on a combined analysis of NMR relaxation rates and chemical shift changes and requires that the chemical shift of the exchanging species can be determined independently of the relaxation rates. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated by a detailed analysis of the conformational exchange processes previously observed in the reduced form of the blue copper protein, plastocyanin from the cyanobacteria Anabaena variabilis (A.v. PCu) (Ma, L.; Hass, M. A. S.; Vierick, N.; Kristensen, S. M.; Ulstrup, J.; Led, J. J. Biochemistry 2003, 42, 320-330). The R1 and R2 relaxation rates of the backbone 15N nuclei were measured at a series of pH and temperatures on an 15N labeled sample of A.v. PCu, and the 15N chemical shifts were obtained from a series of HSQC spectra recorded in the pH range from 4 to 8. From the R1 and R2 relaxation rates, the contribution, Rex, to the transverse relaxation caused by the exchanges between the different allo-states of the protein were determined. Specifically, it is demonstrated that accurate Rex terms can be obtained from the R1 and R2 rates alone in the case of relatively rigid proteins with a small rotational anisotropy. The Rex terms belonging to the same exchange process were identified on the basis of their pH dependences. Subsequently the identifications were confirmed quantitatively by the correlation between the Rex terms and the corresponding chemical shift differences of the exchanging species. By this approach, the Rex terms of 15N nuclei belonging to contiguous regions in the protein could be assigned to the same exchange process. Furthermore, the analysis of the exchange terms shows that the observed micros-ms dynamics in A.v. PCu are caused primarily by the protonation/deprotonation of two histidine residues, His92 and His61, His92 being ligated to the Cu(I) ion. Also the exchange rate of the protonation/deprotonation process of His92 and its pH and temperature dependences were determined, revealing a reaction pathway that is more complex than a simple specific-acid/base catalysis. Finally, the approach allows a differentiation between two-site and multiple-site exchange processes, thus revealing that the protonation/deprotonation of His61 is at least a three-site exchange process. Overall, the approach makes it feasible to obtain exchange rates that are sufficiently accurate and versatile for studies of the kinetics and the mechanisms of local protein dynamics on the sub-millisecond time scale.

Anabaena↗

Slow conformational exchange in DNA minihairpin loops: a conformational study of the circular dumbbell d .

In recent years various examples of highly stable two-residue hairpin loops (miniloops) in DNA have been encountered. As the detailed structure and stability of miniloops appear to be determined not only by the nature and sequence of the two bases in the loop, but also by the closing base pair, it is desirable to carry out in-depth studies of especially designed small model DNA compounds. Therefore, a circular DNA dumbbell-like molecule is tailored to consist of a stem of three Watson-Crick base pairs, flanked on each side by a minihairpin loop. The resulting circular DNA decamer 5'-d -3' (I) is studied in solution by means of nmr spectroscopy. At a temperature of 269 K the molecule occurs in a 50/50 mixture of two dumbbell structures (denoted L2L2 and L2L4). L2L2 contains three Watson-Crick C-G base pairs and two two-residue loops (H2-family type) in opposite parts of the molecule. On raising the temperature from 269 to 314 K, the L2L4 conformer becomes increasingly dominant (95% at 314 K). This conformer has a partially disrupted closing G-C base pair in the 5'-GTTC-3' loop with only one remaining solvent-accessible hydrogen bond between NH alpha of the cytosine C(1) and O6 of the guanine G(8), whereas the opposite 5'-CTTG-3' loop remains stable. The disruption of the C(1)-G(8) base pair in the L2L4 form is correlated with the presence of a syn orientation for the C(1) base at the 5'-3' loop-stem junction in the 5'-GTTC-3' loop. The two conformers, L2L2 and L2L4, occur in slow equilibrium (2-20 s-1). Moderate line broadening of specific 1H, 13C, and 31P resonances of residues C(1), G(8), T(9), and T(10) at low temperatures, due to chemical exchange between L2L2 and L2L4, show that the interconversion from an anti to syn conformer in residue C(1) has a small local effect on the structure of the dumbbell. T1 relaxation measurements, chemical-shift considerations, and complete band-shape calculations of the exchange process of the G(8) imino proton reveal a possibility for the existence of multiconformational states in the anti-syn equilibrium.

Base Sequence↗

Characterization of the overall and local dynamics of a protein with intermediate rotational anisotropy: Differentiating between conformational exchange and anisotropic diffusion in the B3 domain of protein G.

Because the overall tumbling provides a major contribution to protein spectral densities measured in solution, the choice of a proper model for this motion is critical for accurate analysis of protein dynamics. Here we study the overall and backbone dynamics of the B3 domain of protein G using (15)N relaxation measurements and show that the picture of local motions is markedly dependent on the model of overall tumbling. The main difference is in the interpretation of the elevated R(2) values in the alpha-helix: the isotropic model results in conformational exchange throughout the entire helix, whereas no exchange is predicted by anisotropic models that place the longitudinal axis of diffusion tensor almost parallel to the helix axis. Due to small size (fast tumbling) of the protein, the T(1) values have low sensitivity to NH bond orientation. The diffusion tensor derived from orientation dependence of R(2)/R(1) is anisotropic (D(par)/D(perp)=1.4), with a small rhombic component. In order to distinguish the correct picture of motion, we apply model-independent methods that are sensitive to conformational exchange and do not require knowledge of protein structure or assumptions about its dynamics. A comparison of the CSA/dipolar cross-correlation rate constants with (15)N relaxation rates and the estimation of R(ex) terms from relaxation data at 9.4 and 14.1 T indicate no conformational exchange in the helix, in support of the anisotropic models. The experimentally derived diffusion tensor is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions from hydrodynamic calculations; a detailed comparison with various hydrodynamic models revealed optimal parameters for hydrodynamic calculations.

Anisotropy↗

Voltage dependence of Na-Ca exchanger conformational currents.

Properties of a transient current (Icont) believed to reflect a conformational change of the Na-Ca exchanger molecules after Ca2+ binding were investigated. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration jumps in isolated cardiac myocytes were generated with flash photolysis of caged Ca2+ dimethoxynitrophenamine, and membrane currents were simultaneously measured using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique. A previously unresolved shallow voltage dependence of Icont was revealed after developing an experimental protocol designed to compensate for the photoconsumption of the caged compound. This voltage dependence can be interpreted to reflect the distribution of Na-Ca exchanger conformational states with the Ca2+ binding site exposed to the inside of the cell immediately before the flash. Analysis performed by fitting a Boltzmann distribution to the observed data suggests that under control conditions most exchanger molecules reside in states with the Ca2+ binding site facing the outside of the cell. Dialysis of the cytosol with 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil, an organic inhibitor of the Na-Ca exchange, increased the magnitude of Icont and changed the voltage dependence, consistent with a parallel shift of the charge/voltage curve. This shift may result from intracellular DCB interfering with an Na(+)-binding or Na(+)-translocating step. These observations are consistent with Icont arising from a charge movement mediated by the Na-Ca exchanger molecules after binding of Ca2+.

Animals↗

NMR 15N relaxation and structural studies reveal slow conformational exchange in barstar C40/82A.

Barstar an 89-residue protein consisting of four helices and a three-stranded parallel beta-sheet, is the intracellular inhibitor of the endoribonuclease barnase. Barstar C40/82A, a mutant in which the two cysteine residues have been replaced by alanine, has been used as a pseudo wild-type in folding studies and in the crystal structure of the barnase:barstar C40/82A complex. We have determined a high resolution solution structure of barstar C40/82A. The structures of barstar C40/82A and the wild-type are superimposable. A comparison with the crystal structure of the barnase:barstar C40/82A complex revealed subtle differences in the regions involved in the binding of barstar to barnase. Side-chain rotations of residues Asn33, Asp35 and Asp39 and a movement of the binding loop (Pro27-Glu32) towards the binding site of barnase facilitate the formation of interface hydrogen bonds and aromatic contacts in the complex. Extreme line broadening and missing signals in 1H-15N correlation spectra indicate substantial conformational exchange for a large subset of residues. 15N relaxation data at two magnetic field strengths, 11.74 T and 14.10 T, were used to estimate exchange contributions and to map the spectral density function at five frequencies: 0, 50, 60, 450 and 540 MHz. Based on these results, model-free calculations with the inclusion of estimated exchange contributions were used to derive order parameters and internal correlation times. The validity of this approach has been investigated with model-free calculations that incorporate longitudinal relaxation rates and heteronuclear 1H-15N NOE data only at 11.74 T and 14.10 T. The relaxation data suggest substantial conformational exchange in regions of barstar C40/82A, including the binding loop, the second and the third helices, and the second and the third strands. Amide proton exchange experiments suggest a stable hydrogen bond network for all helices and sheets except the third helix and the C-terminal of the second and the third strands. The combined results indicate a rigid body movement of the second helix and twisting motions of the beta-sheet of barstar, which might be important for the interaction with barnase.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Structural and dynamic characterization of omega-conotoxin MVIIA: the binding loop exhibits slow conformational exchange.

omega-Conotoxin MVIIA is a 25-residue, disulfide-bridged polypeptide from the venom of the sea snail Conus magus that binds to neuronal N-type calcium channels. It forms a compact folded structure, presenting a loop between Cys8 and Cys15 that contains a set of residues critical for its binding. The loop does not have a unique defined structure, nor is it intrinsically flexible. Broadening of a subset of resonances in the NMR spectrum at low temperature, anomalous temperature dependence of the chemical shifts of some resonances, and exchange contributions to J(0) from (13)C relaxation measurements reveal that conformational exchange affects the residues in this loop. The effects of this exchange on the calculated structure of omega-conotoxin MVIIA are discussed. The exchange appears to be associated with a change in the conformation of the disulfide bridge Cys8-Cys20. The implications for the use of the omega-conotoxins as a scaffold for carrying other functions is discussed.

Animals↗

Evidence of conformational exchange averaging in the thermal rotational spectrum of ethyl cyanoformate.

The Stark modulated low resolution microwave spectrum of ethyl cyanoformate between 21.5 and 24.0 GHz at 210, 300, and 358 K, which shows the J + 1 <-- J = 8 <-- 7 bands of three species, is compared to simulations based on electronic structure calculations at the MP2/6-311++G theory level. Calculations at this theory level reproduce the relative energies of the syn-anti and syn-gauche conformers, obtained in a previous study, and indicate that the barrier to conformer exchange is approximately 360 cm(-1) higher in energy than the syn-anti minimum. Simulated spectra of the eigenstates of the calculated O-ethyl torsional potential function reproduce the relative intensities and shapes of the lower and higher frequency bands which correspond to transitions of the syn-anti and syn-gauche conformers, respectively, but fail to reproduce the intense center band in the experimental spectra. A model incorporating exchange averaging reproduces the intensity of the center band and its temperature dependence. These simulations indicate that a large fraction of the thermal population at all three temperatures undergoes conformational exchange with an average energy specific rate constant, , of approximately 25 GHz. This model can explain anomalies present in rotational spectra of many other compounds composed of mixtures of conformers.

Journal Article↗

Backbone dynamics of the C-terminal SH2 domain of the p85alpha subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase: effect of phosphotyrosine-peptide binding and characterization of slow conformational exchange processes.

The backbone dynamics of the C-terminal SH2 domain from the regulatory subunit p85alpha (p85alpha C-SH2) of phosphoinositide 3-kinase has been investigated in the absence of, and in complex with, a high-affinity phosphotyrosine-containing peptide ligand derived from the platelet-derived growth-factor receptor. (15)N R(1) and R(2) relaxation rates and steady-state [(1)H]-(15)N NOE values were measured by means of (1)H-(15)N correlated two-dimensional methods and were analyzed within the framework of the model-free formalism. Several residues in the BC loop and in the neighbouring secondary structural elements display fast local dynamics in the absence of phosphotyrosine peptide ligand as evidenced by below-average [(1)H]-(15)N NOE values. Furthermore, residue Gln41 (BC3) displays conformational exchange phenomena as indicated by an above-average R(2) relaxation rate. Upon binding of the phosphotyrosine peptide, the NOE values increase to values observed for regular secondary structure and the exchange contribution to the R(2) relaxation rate for Gln41 (BC3) vanishes. These observations indicate a loss of backbone flexibility upon ligand binding. Substantial exchange contributions for His56 (betaD4) and Cys57 (betaD5), which are known to make important interactions with the ligand, are attenuated upon ligand binding. Several residues in the betaD'-FB region and the BG loop, which contribute to the ligand binding surface of the protein, exhibit exchange terms which are reduced or vanish when the ligand is bound. Together, these observations suggest that ligand binding is accompanied by a loss of conformational flexibility on the ligand binding face of the protein. However, comparison with other SH2 domains reveals an apparent lack of consensus in the changes in dynamics induced by ligand binding. Exchange rates for individual residues were quantified in peptide-complexed p85alpha C-SH2 from the dependence of the exchange contributions on the CPMG delay in an R(2) series and show that peptide-complexed p85alpha C-SH2 is affected by multiple conformational exchange processes with exchange rate constants from 10(2) s(-1) to 7.10(3) s(-1). Mapping of the exchange-rate constants on the protein surface show a clustering of residues with similar exchange-rate constants and suggests that clustered residues are affected by a common predominant exchange process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

NMR studies of the E140Q mutant of the carboxy-terminal domain of calmodulin reveal global conformational exchange in the Ca2+-saturated state.

In the present investigation, the Ca2+ activation of the C-terminal domain of bovine calmodulin and the effects of replacing the bidentate Ca2+-coordinating glutamic acid residue in the 12th and last position of loop IV with a glutamine are studied by NMR spectroscopy. The mutation E140Q results in sequential Ca2+ binding in this domain and has far-reaching effects on the structure of (Ca2+)2 TR2C, thereby providing further evidence for the critical role of this glutamic acid residue for the Ca2+-induced conformational change of regulatory EF-hand proteins. Analyses of the NOESY spectra of the mutant under Ca2+-saturated conditions, such that 97% of the protein is in the (Ca2+)2 form, revealed two sets of mutually exclusive NOEs. One set of NOEs is found to be consistent with the closed structure observed in the apo state of the C-terminal domain of the wild-type protein, while the other set supports the open structure observed in the Ca2+-saturated state. In addition, several residues in the hydrophobic core exhibit broadened resonances. We conclude that the (Ca2+)2 form of the mutant experiences a global conformational exchange between states similar to the closed and open conformations of the C-terminal domain of wild-type calmodulin. A population of 65 +/- 15% of the open conformation and an exchange rate of (1-7) x 10(4) s(-1) were estimated from the NMR data and the chemical shifts of the wild-type protein. From a Ca2+ titration of the 15N-labeled mutant, the macroscopic binding constants [log(K1) = 4.9 +/- 0.3 and log(K2) = 3.15 +/- 0.10] and the inherent chemical shifts of the intermediate (Ca2+)1 form of the mutant were determined using NMR. Valuable information was also provided on the mechanism of the Ca2+ activation and the roles of the structural elements in the two Ca2+-binding events. Comparison with the wild-type protein indicates that the (Ca2+)1 conformation of the mutant is essentially closed but that some rearrangement of the empty loop IV toward the Ca2+-bound form has occurred.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The use of TROSY for detection and suppression of conformational exchange NMR line broadening in biological macromolecules.

The interference between conformational exchange-induced time-dependent variations of chemical shifts in a pair of scalar coupled 1H and 15N spins is used to construct novel TROSY-type NMR experiments to suppress NMR signal loss in [15N,1H]-correlation spectra of a 14-mer DNA duplex free in solution and complexed with the Antp homeodomain. An analysis of double- and zero-quantum relaxation rates of base 1H-15N moieties showed that for certain residues the contribution of conformational exchange-induced transverse relaxation might represent a dominant relaxation mechanism, which, in turn, can be effectively suppressed by TROSY. The use of the new TROSY method for exchange-induced transverse relaxation optimization is illustrated with two new experiments. 2D h1J(HN),h2J(NN) quantitative [15N,1H]-TROSY to measure h1J(HN) and h2J(NN) scalar coupling constants across hydrogen bonds in nucleic acids, and 2D (h2J(NN) + h1J(NH))-correlation-[15N,1H]-TROSY to correlate 1H(N) chemical shifts of bases with the chemical shifts of the tertiary 15N spins across hydrogen bonds using the sum of the trans-hydrogen bond coupling constants in nucleic acids.

Animals↗

Regulatory domain conformational exchange and linker region flexibility in cardiac troponin C bound to cardiac troponin I.

Previously, we utilized (15)N transverse relaxation rates to demonstrate significant mobility in the linker region and conformational exchange in the regulatory domain of Ca(2+)-saturated cardiac troponin C bound to the isolated N-domain of cardiac troponin I (Gaponenko, V., Abusamhadneh, E., Abbott, M. B., Finley, N., Gasmi-Seabrook, G., Solaro, R.J., Rance, M., and Rosevear, P.R. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 16681-16684). Here we show a large decrease in cardiac troponin C linker flexibility, corresponding to residues 85-93, when bound to intact cardiac troponin I. The addition of 2 m urea to the intact cardiac troponin I-troponin C complex significantly increased linker flexibility. Conformational changes in the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C were monitored in complexes with troponin I-(1-211), troponin I-(33-211), troponin I-(1-80) and bisphosphorylated troponin I-(1-80). The cardiac specific N terminus, residues 1-32, and the C-domain, residues 81-211, of troponin I are both capable of inducing conformational changes in the troponin C regulatory domain. Phosphorylation of the cardiac specific N terminus reversed its effects on the regulatory domain. These studies provide the first evidence that the cardiac specific N terminus can modulate the function of troponin C by altering the conformational equilibrium of the regulatory domain.

Animals↗