1
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Design of an artificial phage-display library based on a new scaffold improved for average stability of the randomized proteins. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1339. [PMID: 36693880 PMCID: PMC9873692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27710-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Scaffold-based protein libraries are designed to be both diverse and rich in functional/folded proteins. However, introducing an extended diversity while preserving stability of the initial scaffold remains a challenge. Here we developed an original approach to select the ensemble of folded proteins from an initial library. The thermostable CheY protein from Thermotoga maritima was chosen as scaffold. Four loops of CheY were diversified to create a new binding surface. The subset of the library giving rise to folded proteins was first selected using a natural protein partner of the template scaffold. Then, a gene shuffling approach based on a single restriction enzyme was used to recombine DNA sequences encoding these filtrated variants. Taken together, the filtration strategy and the shuffling of the filtrated sequences were shown to enrich the library in folded and stable sequences while maintaining a large diversity in the final library (Lib-Cheytins 2.1). Binders of the Oplophorus luciferase Kaz domain were then selected by phage display from the final library, showing affinities in the μM range. One of the best variants induced a loss of 92% of luminescent activity, suggesting that this Cheytin preferentially binds to the Kaz active site.
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2
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Structural convergence for tubulin binding of CPAP and vinca domain microtubule inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2120098119. [PMID: 35507869 PMCID: PMC9171608 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120098119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are dynamic assemblies of αβ-tubulin that are involved in key cellular functions, including cell division and intracellular transport. Microtubule dynamics is inhibited by several families of small molecules, some of which are used in oncology. The extent to which these compounds target the binding sites of cellular partners of tubulin remains poorly characterized. We show here that a region of the CPAP protein binds to the so-called vinca domain of β-tubulin in a way very similar to that of peptide-like inhibitors produced by bacteria and fungi. Therefore, our work identifies a structural convergence for tubulin binding between inhibitors and a regulator of microtubule dynamics. Microtubule dynamics is regulated by various cellular proteins and perturbed by small-molecule compounds. To what extent the mechanism of the former resembles that of the latter is an open question. We report here structures of tubulin bound to the PN2-3 domain of CPAP, a protein controlling the length of the centrioles. We show that an α-helix of the PN2-3 N-terminal region binds and caps the longitudinal surface of the tubulin β subunit. Moreover, a PN2-3 N-terminal stretch lies in a β-tubulin site also targeted by fungal and bacterial peptide-like inhibitors of the vinca domain, sharing a very similar binding mode with these compounds. Therefore, our results identify several characteristic features of cellular partners that bind to this site and highlight a structural convergence of CPAP with small-molecule inhibitors of microtubule assembly.
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3
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ComFC mediates transport and handling of single-stranded DNA during natural transformation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1961. [PMID: 35414142 PMCID: PMC9005727 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29494-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The ComFC protein is essential for natural transformation, a process that plays a major role in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors across bacteria. However, its role remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Helicobacter pylori ComFC is involved in DNA transport through the cell membrane, and is required for the handling of the single-stranded DNA once it is delivered into the cytoplasm. The crystal structure of ComFC includes a zinc-finger motif and a putative phosphoribosyl transferase domain, both necessary for the protein's in vivo activity. Furthermore, we show that ComFC is a membrane-associated protein with affinity for single-stranded DNA. Our results suggest that ComFC provides the link between the transport of the transforming DNA into the cytoplasm and its handling by the recombination machinery.
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4
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Nawarathnage S, Soleimani S, Mathis MH, Bezzant BD, Ramírez DT, Gajjar P, Bunn DR, Stewart C, Smith T, Pedroza Romo MJ, Brown S, Doukov T, Moody JD. Crystals of TELSAM-target protein fusions that exhibit minimal crystal contacts and lack direct inter-TELSAM contacts. Open Biol 2022; 12:210271. [PMID: 35232248 PMCID: PMC8889177 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
While conducting pilot studies into the usefulness of fusion to TELSAM polymers as a potential protein crystallization strategy, we observed novel properties in crystals of two TELSAM-target protein fusions, as follows. (i) A TELSAM-target protein fusion can crystallize more rapidly and with greater propensity than the same target protein alone. (ii) TELSAM-target protein fusions can be crystallized at low protein concentrations. This unprecedented observation suggests a route to crystallize proteins that can only be produced in microgram amounts. (iii) The TELSAM polymers themselves need not directly contact one another in the crystal lattice in order to form well-diffracting crystals. This novel observation is important because it suggests that TELSAM may be able to crystallize target proteins too large to allow direct inter-polymer contacts. (iv) Flexible TELSAM-target protein linkers can allow target proteins to find productive binding modes against the TELSAM polymer. (v) TELSAM polymers can adjust their helical rise to allow fused target proteins to make productive crystal contacts. (vi). Fusion to TELSAM polymers can stabilize weak inter-target protein crystal contacts. We report features of these TELSAM-target protein crystal structures and outline future work needed to validate TELSAM as a crystallization chaperone and determine best practices for its use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Soleimani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Moriah H. Mathis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Braydan D. Bezzant
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Diana T. Ramírez
- Department of Natural Sciences, California State University Chico, Chico, CA, USA
| | - Parag Gajjar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Derick R. Bunn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Cameron Stewart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tobin Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | | | - Seth Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tzanko Doukov
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Structural Molecular Biology Resource, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - James D. Moody
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
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5
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Vrancken JPM, Tame JRH, Voet ARD. Development and applications of artificial symmetrical proteins. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:3959-3968. [PMID: 33335692 PMCID: PMC7734218 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the determination of the first molecular models of proteins there has been interest in creating proteins artificially, but such methods have only become widely successful in the last decade. Gradual improvements over a long period of time have now yielded numerous examples of non-natural proteins, many of which are built from repeated elements. In this review we discuss the design of such symmetrical proteins and their various applications in chemistry and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen P M Vrancken
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeremy R H Tame
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Arnout R D Voet
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Modelling and Design, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200G, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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6
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Lapenta F, Jerala R. Design of novel protein building modules and modular architectures. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 63:90-96. [PMID: 32505942 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Nature uses only a limited number of protein topologies and while several folds have evolved independently over time, there are clearly many possible topologies that have not been explored by evolution. With recent advances of protein design concepts, computational modeling tools, high resolution and high-throughput experimental methods it is now possible to design new protein architectures. The collection of building blocks and design principles widened both in size and complexity, offering an expanded toolset for building new modular folds and functional protein structures. Here we review and discuss recent achievements of protein design, focusing in particular on the use and prospects of modular approaches for assembling new protein folds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Lapenta
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia; EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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7
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Léger C, Yahia-Ammar A, Susumu K, Medintz IL, Urvoas A, Valerio-Lepiniec M, Minard P, Hildebrandt N. Picomolar Biosensing and Conformational Analysis Using Artificial Bidomain Proteins and Terbium-to-Quantum Dot Förster Resonance Energy Transfer. ACS NANO 2020; 14:5956-5967. [PMID: 32216328 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c01410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Although antibodies remain a primary recognition element in all forms of biosensing, functional limitations arising from their size, stability, and structure have motivated the development and production of many different artificial scaffold proteins for biological recognition. However, implementing such artificial binders into functional high-performance biosensors remains a challenging task. Here, we present the design and application of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanoprobes comprising small artificial proteins (αRep bidomains) labeled with a Tb complex (Tb) donor on the C-terminus and a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) acceptor on the N-terminus. Specific binding of one or two protein targets to the αReps induced a conformational change that could be detected by time-resolved Tb-to-QD FRET. These single-probe FRET switches were used in a separation-free solution-phase assay to quantify different protein targets at sub-nanomolar concentrations and to measure the conformational changes with sub-nanometer resolution. Probing ligand-receptor binding under physiological conditions at very low concentrations in solution is a special feature of FRET that can be efficiently combined with other structural characterization methods to develop, understand, and optimize artificial biosensors. Our results suggest that the αRep FRET nanoprobes have a strong potential for their application in advanced diagnostics and intracellular live-cell imaging of ligand-receptor interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corentin Léger
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Akram Yahia-Ammar
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Agathe Urvoas
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie Valerio-Lepiniec
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Minard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Niko Hildebrandt
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- nanoFRET.com, Laboratoire COBRA (Chimie Organique, Bioorganique, Réactivité et Analyse), Université de Rouen Normandie, CNRS, INSA, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
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8
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Gebauer M, Skerra A. Engineering of binding functions into proteins. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 60:230-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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9
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Prasad J, Viollet S, Gurunatha KL, Urvoas A, Fournier AC, Valerio-Lepiniec M, Marcelot C, Baris B, Minard P, Dujardin E. Directed evolution of artificial repeat proteins as habit modifiers for the morphosynthesis of (111)-terminated gold nanocrystals. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:17485-17497. [PMID: 31532442 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr04497c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Natural biocomposites are shaped by proteins that have evolved to interact with inorganic materials. Protein directed evolution methods which mimic Darwinian evolution have proven highly successful to generate improved enzymes or therapeutic antibodies but have rarely been used to evolve protein-material interactions. Indeed, most reported studies have focused on short peptides and a wide range of oligopeptides with chemical binding affinity for inorganic materials have been uncovered by phage display methods. However, their small size and flexible unfolded structure prevent them from dictating the shape and crystallinity of the growing material. In the present work, a specific set of artificial repeat proteins (αRep), which exhibit highly stable 3D folding with a well-defined hypervariable interacting surface, is selected by directed evolution of a very efficient home-built protein library for their high and selective affinity for the Au(111) surface. The proteins are built from the extendable concatenation of self-compatible repeated motifs idealized from natural HEAT proteins. The high-yield synthesis of Au(111)-faceted nanostructures mediated by these αRep proteins demonstrates their chemical affinity and structural selectivity that endow them with high crystal habit modification performances. Importantly, we further exploit the protein shell spontaneously assembled on the nanocrystal facets to drive protein-mediated colloidal self-assembly and on-surface enzymatic catalysis. Our method constitutes a generic tool for producing nanocrystals with determined faceting, superior biocompatibility and versatile bio-functionalization towards plasmon-based devices and (bio)molecular sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janak Prasad
- CEMES, CNRS UPR 8011, 29 rue J. Marvig, B.P. 94347, F-31055 Toulouse, France.
| | - Sébastien Viollet
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
| | - Kargal L Gurunatha
- CEMES, CNRS UPR 8011, 29 rue J. Marvig, B.P. 94347, F-31055 Toulouse, France.
| | - Agathe Urvoas
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
| | - Agathe C Fournier
- CEMES, CNRS UPR 8011, 29 rue J. Marvig, B.P. 94347, F-31055 Toulouse, France.
| | - Marie Valerio-Lepiniec
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
| | - Cécile Marcelot
- CEMES, CNRS UPR 8011, 29 rue J. Marvig, B.P. 94347, F-31055 Toulouse, France.
| | - Bulent Baris
- CEMES, CNRS UPR 8011, 29 rue J. Marvig, B.P. 94347, F-31055 Toulouse, France.
| | - Philippe Minard
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
| | - Erik Dujardin
- CEMES, CNRS UPR 8011, 29 rue J. Marvig, B.P. 94347, F-31055 Toulouse, France.
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10
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Ligand-induced conformational switch in an artificial bidomain protein scaffold. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1178. [PMID: 30718544 PMCID: PMC6362204 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37256-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial proteins binding any predefined “target” protein can now be efficiently generated using combinatorial libraries based on robust protein scaffolds. αRep is such a family of artificial proteins, based on an α-solenoid protein repeat scaffold. The low aggregation propensity of the specific “binders” generated from this library opens new protein engineering opportunities such as the creation of biosensors within multidomain constructions. Here, we have explored the properties of two new types of artificial bidomain proteins based on αRep structures. Their structural and functional properties are characterized in detail using biophysical methods. The results clearly show that both bidomain proteins adopt a closed bivalve shell-like conformation, in the ligand free form. However, the presence of ligands induces a conformational transition, and the proteins adopt an open form in which each domain can bind its cognate protein partner. The open/closed equilibria alter the affinities of each domain and induce new cooperative effects. The binding-induced relative domain motion was monitored by FRET. Crystal structures of the chimeric proteins indicate that the conformation of each constituting domain is conserved but that their mutual interactions explain the emergent properties of these artificial bidomain proteins. The ligand-induced structural transition observed in these bidomain proteins should be transferable to other αRep proteins with different specificity and could provide the basis of a new generic biosensor design.
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11
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Campanacci V, Urvoas A, Consolati T, Cantos-Fernandes S, Aumont-Nicaise M, Valerio-Lepiniec M, Surrey T, Minard P, Gigant B. Selection and Characterization of Artificial Proteins Targeting the Tubulin α Subunit. Structure 2019; 27:497-506.e4. [PMID: 30661854 PMCID: PMC6408325 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Microtubules are cytoskeletal filaments of eukaryotic cells made of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. Structural studies of non-microtubular tubulin rely mainly on molecules that prevent its self-assembly and are used as crystallization chaperones. Here we identified artificial proteins from an αRep library that are specific to α-tubulin. Turbidity experiments indicate that these αReps impede microtubule assembly in a dose-dependent manner and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy further shows that they specifically block growth at the microtubule (−) end. Structural data indicate that they do so by targeting the α-tubulin longitudinal surface. Interestingly, in one of the complexes studied, the α subunit is in a conformation that is intermediate between the ones most commonly observed in X-ray structures of tubulin and those seen in the microtubule, emphasizing the plasticity of tubulin. These α-tubulin-specific αReps broaden the range of tools available for the mechanistic study of microtubule dynamics and its regulation. Selection of α-tubulin-specific artificial αRep proteins The αReps inhibit microtubule assembly and specifically block growth at the (−) end The αReps target the longitudinal surface of α-tubulin The αReps are useful tools for the mechanistic study of microtubule dynamics
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Campanacci
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France
| | - Agathe Urvoas
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France
| | - Tanja Consolati
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Soraya Cantos-Fernandes
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France
| | - Magali Aumont-Nicaise
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France
| | - Marie Valerio-Lepiniec
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France
| | - Thomas Surrey
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Philippe Minard
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France.
| | - Benoît Gigant
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex 91198, France.
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12
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Shi L, Cavagnino A, Rabefiraisana JL, Lazar N, Li de la Sierra-Gallay I, Ochsenbein F, Valerio-Lepiniec M, Urvoas A, Minard P, Mijakovic I, Nessler S. Structural Analysis of the Hanks-Type Protein Kinase YabT From Bacillus subtilis Provides New Insights in its DNA-Dependent Activation. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3014. [PMID: 30671027 PMCID: PMC6333020 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
YabT is a serine/threonine kinase of the Hanks family from Bacillus subtilis, which lacks the canonical extracellular signal receptor domain but is anchored to the membrane through a C-terminal transmembrane helix. A previous study demonstrated that a basic juxtamembrane region corresponds to a DNA-binding motif essential for the activation of YabT trans-autophosphorylation. YabT is expressed during spore development and localizes to the asymmetric septum where it specifically phosphorylates essential proteins involved in genome maintenance, such as RecA, SsbA, and YabA. YabT has also been shown to phosphorylate proteins involved in protein synthesis, such as AbrB and Ef-Tu, suggesting a possible regulatory role in the progressive metabolic quiescence of the forespore. Finally, cross phosphorylations with other protein kinases implicate YabT in the regulation of numerous other cellular processes. Using an artificial protein scaffold as crystallization helper, we determined the first crystal structure of this DNA-dependent bacterial protein kinase. This allowed us to trap the active conformation of the kinase domain of YabT. Using NMR, we showed that the basic juxtamembrane region of YabT is disordered in the absence of DNA in solution, just like it is in the crystal, and that it is stabilized upon DNA binding. In comparison with its closest structural homolog, the mycobacterial kinase PknB allowed us to discuss the dimerization mode of YabT. Together with phosphorylation assays and DNA-binding experiments, this structural analysis helped us to gain new insights into the regulatory activation mechanism of YabT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrea Cavagnino
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jean-Luc Rabefiraisana
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Noureddine Lazar
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Inès Li de la Sierra-Gallay
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Françoise Ochsenbein
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie Valerio-Lepiniec
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Agathe Urvoas
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Philippe Minard
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Ivan Mijakovic
- Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sylvie Nessler
- Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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