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Buchko GW, Zhou M, Vesely CH, Tao J, Shaw WJ, Mehl RA, Cooley RB. High-yield recombinant bacterial expression of 13 C-, 15 N-labeled, serine-16 phosphorylated, murine amelogenin using a modified third generation genetic code expansion protocol. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4560. [PMID: 36585836 PMCID: PMC9850436 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Amelogenin constitutes ~90% of the enamel matrix in the secretory stage of amelogenesis, a still poorly understood process that results in the formation of the hardest and most mineralized tissue in vertebrates-enamel. Most biophysical research with amelogenin uses recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli. In addition to providing copious amounts of protein, recombinant expression allows 13 C- and 15 N-labeling for detailed structural studies using NMR spectroscopy. However, native amelogenin is phosphorylated at one position, Ser-16 in murine amelogenin, and there is mounting evidence that Ser-16 phosphorylation is important. Using a modified genetic code expansion protocol we have expressed and purified uniformly 13 C-, 15 N-labeled murine amelogenin (pS16M179) with ~95% of the protein being correctly phosphorylated. Homogeneous phosphorylation was achieved using commercially available, enriched, 13 C-, 15 N-labeled media, and protein expression was induced with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside at 310 K. Phosphoserine incorporation was verified from one-dimensional 31 P NMR spectra, comparison of 1 H-15 N HSQC spectra, Phos-tag SDS PAGE, and mass spectrometry. Phosphorus-31 NMR spectra for pS16M179 under conditions known to trigger amelogenin self-assembly into nanospheres confirm nanosphere models with buried N-termini. Lambda phosphatase treatment of these nanospheres results in the dephosphorylation of pS16M179, confirming that smaller oligomers and monomers with exposed N-termini are in equilibrium with nanospheres. Such 13 C-, 15 N-labeling of amelogenin with accurately encoded phosphoserine incorporation will accelerate biomineralization research to understand amelogenesis and stimulate the expanded use of genetic code expansion protocols to introduce phosphorylated amino acids into proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry W. Buchko
- Earth and Biological Sciences DirectoratePacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWashingtonUSA,School of Molecular BiosciencesWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Mowei Zhou
- Earth and Biological Sciences DirectoratePacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWashingtonUSA
| | - Cat Hoang Vesely
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Jinhui Tao
- Physical and Computational Sciences DirectoratePacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWashingtonUSA
| | - Wendy J. Shaw
- Physical and Computational Sciences DirectoratePacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandWashingtonUSA
| | - Ryan A. Mehl
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Richard B. Cooley
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
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Buchko GW, Mergelsberg ST, Tarasevich BJ, Shaw WJ. Residue-Specific Insights into the Intermolecular Protein–Protein Interfaces Driving Amelogenin Self-Assembly in Solution. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2909-2921. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Garry W. Buchko
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Sebastian T. Mergelsberg
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Barbara J. Tarasevich
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Wendy J. Shaw
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
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Shaw WJ, Tarasevich BJ, Buchko GW, Arachchige RMJ, Burton SD. Controls of nature: Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure of the enamel protein amelogenin in solution and on hydroxyapatite. J Struct Biol 2020; 212:107630. [PMID: 32979496 PMCID: PMC7744360 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Amelogenin, a protein critical to enamel formation, is presented as a model for understanding how the structure of biomineralization proteins orchestrate biomineral formation. Amelogenin is the predominant biomineralization protein in the early stages of enamel formation and contributes to the controlled formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) enamel crystals. The resulting enamel mineral is one of the hardest tissues in the human body and one of the hardest biominerals in nature. Structural studies have been hindered by the lack of techniques to evaluate surface adsorbed proteins and by amelogenin's disposition to self-assemble. Recent advancements in solution and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and recombinant isotope labeling strategies are now enabling detailed structural studies. These recent studies, coupled with insights from techniques such as CD and IR spectroscopy and computational methodologies, are contributing to important advancements in our structural understanding of amelogenesis. In this review we focus on recent advances in solution and solid state NMR spectroscopy and in situ AFM that reveal new insights into the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure of amelogenin by itself and in contact with HAP. These studies have increased our understanding of the interface between amelogenin and HAP and how amelogenin controls enamel formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy J Shaw
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
| | - Barbara J Tarasevich
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Garry W Buchko
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA; School of Molecular Bioscience, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Rajith M J Arachchige
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Sarah D Burton
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
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Dissanayake SSM, Ekambaram M, Li KC, Harris PWR, Brimble MA. Identification of Key Functional Motifs of Native Amelogenin Protein for Dental Enamel Remineralisation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 25:molecules25184214. [PMID: 32937944 PMCID: PMC7571260 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Dental caries or tooth decay is a preventable and multifactorial disease that affects billions of people globally and is a particular concern in younger populations. This decay arises from acid demineralisation of tooth enamel resulting in mineral loss from the subsurface. The remineralisation of early enamel carious lesions could prevent the cavitation of teeth. The enamel protein amelogenin constitutes 90% of the total enamel matrix protein in teeth and plays a key role in the biomineralisation of tooth enamel. The physiological importance of amelogenin has led to the investigation of the possible development of amelogenin-derived biomimetics against dental caries. We herein review the literature on amelogenin, its primary and secondary structure, comparison to related species, and its’ in vivo processing to bioactive peptide fragments. The key structural motifs of amelogenin that enable enamel remineralisation are discussed. The presence of several motifs in the amelogenin structure (such as polyproline, N- and C-terminal domains and C-terminal orientation) were shown to play a critical role in the formation of particle shape during remineralization. Understanding the function/structure relationships of amelogenin can aid in the rational design of synthetic polypeptides for biomineralisation, halting enamel loss and leading to improved therapies for tooth decay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shama S. M. Dissanayake
- School of Chemical Sciences, 23 Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
| | - Manikandan Ekambaram
- Paediatric Dentistry, Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (M.E.); (K.C.L.)
| | - Kai Chun Li
- Paediatric Dentistry, Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand; (M.E.); (K.C.L.)
| | - Paul W. R. Harris
- School of Chemical Sciences, 23 Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
- School of Biological Sciences, 3b Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, 3b Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Correspondence: (P.W.R.H.); (M.A.B.); Tel.: +64-9-373-7599 (P.W.R.H. & M.A.B.); Fax: +64-9-373-7422 (P.W.R.H. & M.A.B.)
| | - Margaret A. Brimble
- School of Chemical Sciences, 23 Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
- School of Biological Sciences, 3b Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, 3b Symonds St, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Correspondence: (P.W.R.H.); (M.A.B.); Tel.: +64-9-373-7599 (P.W.R.H. & M.A.B.); Fax: +64-9-373-7422 (P.W.R.H. & M.A.B.)
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The energetic basis for hydroxyapatite mineralization by amelogenin variants provides insights into the origin of amelogenesis imperfecta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13867-13872. [PMID: 31239344 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815654116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Small variations in the primary amino acid sequence of extracellular matrix proteins can have profound effects on the biomineralization of hard tissues. For example, a change in one amino acid within the amelogenin protein can lead to drastic changes in enamel phenotype, resulting in amelogenesis imperfecta, enamel that is defective and easily damaged. Despite the importance of these undesirable phenotypes, there is very little understanding of how single amino acid variation in amelogenins can lead to malformed enamel. Here, we aim to develop a thermodynamic understanding of how protein variants can affect steps of the biomineralization process. High-resolution, in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that altering one amino acid within the murine amelogenin sequence (natural variants T21 and P41T, and experimental variant P71T) resulted in an increase in the quantity of protein adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite (HAP) and the formation of multiple protein layers. Quantitative analysis of the equilibrium adsorbate amounts revealed that the protein variants had higher oligomer-oligomer binding energies. MMP20 enzyme degradation and HAP mineralization studies showed that the amino acid variants slowed the degradation of amelogenin by MMP20 and inhibited the growth and phase transformation of HAP. We propose that the protein variants cause malformed enamel because they bind excessively to HAP and disrupt the normal HAP growth and enzymatic degradation processes. The in situ methods applied to determine the energetics of molecular level processes are powerful tools toward understanding the mechanisms of biomineralization.
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Crowley EL, Rafferty SP. Review of lactose-driven auto-induction expression of isotope-labelled proteins. Protein Expr Purif 2019; 157:70-85. [PMID: 30708035 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
NMR is an important method in the structural and functional characterization of proteins, but such experiments typically require isotopic labelling because of the low natural abundance of the nuclei of interest. Isotope-labelled protein for NMR experiments is typically obtained from IPTG-inducible bacterial expression systems in a minimal media that contains labelled carbon or nitrogen sources. Optimization of expression conditions is crucial yet challenging; large amounts of labelled protein are desired, yet protein yields are lower in minimal media, while the labelled precursors are expensive. Faced with these challenges there is a growing body of literature that apply innovative methods of induction to optimize the yield of isotope-labelled protein. A promising technique is lactose-driven auto-induction as it mitigates user intervention and can lead to higher protein yields. This review assesses the current advances and limitations surrounding the ability of researchers to isotope label proteins using auto-induction, and it identifies key components for optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika L Crowley
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 0G2, Canada.
| | - Steven P Rafferty
- Department of Chemistry, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9J 0G2, Canada.
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Arachchige RJ, Burton SD, Lu JX, Ginovska B, Harding LK, Taylor ME, Tao J, Dohnalkova A, Tarasevich BJ, Buchko GW, Shaw WJ. Solid-State NMR Identification of Intermolecular Interactions in Amelogenin Bound to Hydroxyapatite. Biophys J 2018; 115:1666-1672. [PMID: 30415654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomineralization processes govern the formation of hierarchical hard tissues such as bone and teeth in living organisms, and mimicking these processes could lead to the design of new materials with specialized properties. However, such advances require structural characterization of the proteins guiding biomineral formation to understand and mimic their impact. In their "active" form, biomineralization proteins are bound to a solid surface, severely limiting our ability to use many conventional structure characterization techniques. Here, solid-state NMR spectroscopy was applied to study the intermolecular interactions of amelogenin, the most abundant protein present during the early stages of enamel formation, in self-assembled oligomers bound to hydroxyapatite. Intermolecular dipolar couplings were identified that support amelogenin dimer formation stabilized by residues toward the C-termini. These dipolar interactions were corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations. A β-sheet structure was identified in multiple regions of the protein, which is otherwise intrinsically disordered in the absence of hydroxyapatite. To our knowledge, this is the first intermolecular protein-protein interaction reported for a biomineralization protein, representing an advancement in understanding enamel development and a new general strategy toward investigating biomineralization proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah D Burton
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
| | - Jun-Xia Lu
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
| | | | | | - Megan E Taylor
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
| | - Jinhui Tao
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
| | | | | | - Garry W Buchko
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington; School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
| | - Wendy J Shaw
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.
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Buchko GW, Jayasinha Arachchige R, Tao J, Tarasevich BJ, Shaw WJ. Identification of major matrix metalloproteinase-20 proteolytic processing products of murine amelogenin and tyrosine-rich amelogenin peptide using a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy based method. Arch Oral Biol 2018; 93:187-194. [PMID: 29960917 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify major matrix metalloproteinase-20 (MMP20) proteolytic processing products of amelogenin over time and determine if the tyrosine-rich amelogenin peptide (TRAP) was a substrate of MMP20. DESIGN Recombinant15N-labeled murine amelogenin and 13C,15N-labeled TRAP were incubated with MMP20 under conditions where amelogenin self-assembles into nanospheres. Digestion products were fractionated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography at various time points. Product identification took advantage of the intrinsic disorder property of amelogenin that results in little change to its fingerprint 1H-15N heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum in 2% acetic acid upon removing parts of the protein, allowing cleavage site identification by observing which amide cross peaks disappear. RESULTS The primary product in five out of the six major reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography bands generated after a 24 h incubation of murine amelogenin with MMP20 were: S55-L163, P2-L147, P2-E162, P2-A167, and P2-R176. After 72 h these products were replaced with five major reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography bands containing: L46-A170, P2-S152, P2-F151, P2-W45, and short N-terminal peptides. TRAP was completely digested by MMP20 into multiple small peptides with the initial primary site of cleavage between S16 and Y17. CONCLUSIONS Identification of the major MMP20 proteolytic products of amelogenin confirm a dynamic process, with sites towards the C-terminus more rapidly attacked than sites near the N-terminus. This observation is consistent with nanosphere models where the C-terminus is exposed and the N-terminus more protected. One previously reported end-product of the MMP20 proteolytic processing of amelogenin, TRAP, is shown to be an in vitro substrate for MMP20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry W Buchko
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA; School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | | | - Jinhui Tao
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
| | | | - Wendy J Shaw
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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Tao J, Buchko GW, Shaw WJ, De Yoreo JJ, Tarasevich BJ. Sequence-Defined Energetic Shifts Control the Disassembly Kinetics and Microstructure of Amelogenin Adsorbed onto Hydroxyapatite (100). LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:10451-10460. [PMID: 26381243 PMCID: PMC4917396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The interactions between proteins and surfaces are critical to a number of important processes including biomineralization, the biocompatibility of biomaterials, and the function of biosensors. Although many proteins exist as monomers or small oligomers, amelogenin is a unique protein that self-assembles into supramolecular structures called "nanospheres," aggregates of hundreds of monomers that are 20-60 nm in diameter. The nanosphere quaternary structure is observed in solution; however, the quaternary structure of amelogenin adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite (HAP) surfaces is not known even though it may be important to amelogenin's function in forming highly elongated and intricately assembled HAP crystallites during enamel formation. We report studies of the interactions of the enamel protein, amelogenin (rpM179), with a well-defined (100) face prepared by the synthesis of large crystals of HAP. High-resolution in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to directly observe protein adsorption onto HAP at the molecular level within an aqueous solution environment. Our study shows that the amelogenin nanospheres disassemble onto the HAP surface, breaking down into oligomeric (25-mer) subunits of the larger nanosphere. In some cases, the disassembly event is directly observed by in situ imaging for the first time. Quantification of the adsorbate amounts by size analysis led to the determination of a protein binding energy (17.1k(b)T) to a specific face of HAP (100). The kinetics of disassembly are greatly slowed in aged solutions, indicating that there are time-dependent increases in oligomer-oligomer binding interactions within the nanosphere. A small change in the sequence of amelogenin by the attachment of a histidine tag to the N-terminus of rpM179 to form rp(H)M180 results in the adsorption of a complete second layer on top of the underlying first layer. Our research elucidates how supramolecular protein structures interact and break down at surfaces and how small changes in the primary sequence of amelogenin can affect the disassembly process.
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