Comparison of proto-oncogenic and mutant forms of the transmembrane region of the Neu receptor in TFE

Dimerization of Neu/Erb2 transmembrane domain is controlled by membrane curvature

Secondary structures of the proto-oncogenic Neu/ErbB2 transmembrane segment and its mutant analogue have been determined in phospholipids. It is found that the mutated peptide possesses less helical character possibly due to the valine/glutamic acid point mutation. Embedding peptides in lipid systems whose topology can change from small (100-200 A) tumbling objects to bilayer discs of 450 A diameter leads to the finding that coiled-coil interactions are only observed in the presence of a bilayer membrane of low curvature, independent of mutation. This strongly suggests that any event that may change membrane topology can therefore perturb the dimerization/ologomerization and subsequent phosphorylation cascade leading to cell growth or cancer processes.

Revisited and large-scale synthesis and purification of the mutated and wild type neu/erbB-2 membrane-spanning segment

Solid-phase syntheses of the hydrophobic peptides Neu(TM35) ((1)EQRASPVTFIIATVVGVLLFLILVVVVGILIKRRR(35)) and Neu*(TM35) ((1)EQRASPVTFIIATVEGVLLFLILVVVVGILIKRRR(35)), corresponding to the native and mutated (V15E) transmembrane domain of the neu/erbB-2 tyrosine kinase receptor, respectively, were accomplished using Fmoc chemistry. The use of a new resin and cleavage and purification conditions led to large increases in yields and peptide purity. Two (15)N-labelled versions of both wild type and mutated peptides were also synthesized. Approximately 20-40 mg of peptide was obtained using a small-scale synthesis, whereas ca 100 mg of pure peptide was collected on a medium scale. Peptide purity, as monitored by HPLC and mass spectrometry, ranged from 95 to 98% for the six peptides synthesized. Secondary structure as determined by UV circular dichroism (CD) in trifluoroethanol (TFE) showed ca 74% alpha-helical content for the native peptide and ca 63% for that bearing the mutation. Secondary structure of Neu(TM35) was retained in DMPC (dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine)/DCPC (dicaproylphosphatidylcholine) membrane bicelles, and evidences for dimers/oligomers in the lipid bilayer were found.

Transmembrane Peptides from Tyrosine Kinase Receptor. Mutation-related Behavior in a Lipid Bilayer Investigated by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Polar mutations in transmembrane alpha helices may alter the structural details of the hydrophobic sequences and control intermolecular contacts. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations on the transmembrane domain of the proto-oncogenic and the oncogenic forms of the Neu receptor in a fluid DMPC bilayer to test whether the Glu mutation which replaces the Val residue at position 664 may alter the helical structure and its insertion in the membrane. The simulations show that the wild and the mutant forms of the transmembrane domain have a different behavior in the bilayer. The native transmembrane sequence is found to be more flexible than in the presence of the Glu mutation, characterized by a tendency to pi deformation to accommodate the helix length to the membrane thickness. The mutant form of this domain does not evidence helical deformation in the present simulation. Hydrophobic matching is achieved both by a larger helix tilt and a vertical shift of the helix towards the membrane interface, favoring the accessibility of the Glu side chain to the membrane environment. A rapid exchange of hydrogen bond interactions with the surrounding water molecules and the lipid headgroups is observed. The difference in the behavior between the two peptides in a membrane environment was also observed experimentally. Both simulation and experimental results agree with the hypothesis that water may act as an intermediate for the formation of cross links between the facing Glu side chains stabilizing the dimer.

Molecular dynamics (MD) investigations of preformed structures of the transmembrane domain of the oncogenic Neu receptor dimer in a DMPC bilayer

The critical Val/Glu mutation in the membrane spanning domain of the rat Neu receptor confers the ability for ligand-independent signaling and leads to increased dimerization and transforming ability. There is evidence that the two transmembrane interacting helices play a role in receptor activation by imposing orientation constraints to the intracellular tyrosine kinase domains. By using MD simulations we have attempted to discriminate between correct and improper helix-helix packing by examining the structural and energetic properties of preformed left-handed and right-handed structures in a fully hydrated DMPC bilayer. The best energetic balance between the residues at the helix-helix interface and the residues exposed to the lipids is obtained for helices in symmetrical left-handed interactions packed together via Glu side chain/Ala backbone interhelical hydrogen bonds. Analyses demonstrate the importance of the ATVEG motif in helix-helix packing and point to additional contacting residues necessary for association. Our findings, all consistent with experimental data, suggest that a symmetrical left-handed structure of the helices could be the transmembrane domain configuration that promotes receptor activation and transformation. The present study may provide further insight into signal transduction mechanisms of the ErbB/Neu receptors.

Myelin basic protein-diverse conformational states of an intrinsically unstructured protein and its roles in myelin assembly and multiple sclerosis

The 18.5 kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) is a major component of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system of higher vertebrates, and a member of a larger family of proteins with a multiplicity of forms and post-translational modifications (PTMs). The 18.5 kDa protein is the exemplar of the family, being most abundant in adult myelin, and thus the most-studied. It is peripherally membrane-associated, but has generally been investigated in isolated form. MBP is an 'intrinsically unstructured' protein with a high proportion (approximately 75%) of random coil, but postulated to have core elements of beta-sheet and alpha-helix. We review here the properties of the MBP family, especially of the 18.5 kDa isoform, and discuss how its three-dimensional (3D) structure may be resolved by direct techniques available to us, viz., X-ray and electron crystallography, and solution and solid-state NMR spectrometry. In particular, we emphasise that creating an appropriate environment in which the protein can adopt a physiologically relevant fold is crucial to such endeavours. By solving the 3D structure of 18.5 kDa MBP and the effects of PTMs, we will attain a better understanding of myelin architecture, and of the molecular mechanisms that transpire in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

The transmembrane domain of Neu in a lipid bilayer: molecular dynamics simulations

The results of full-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the transmembrane domains (TMDs) of both native, and Glu664-mutant (either protonated or unprotonated) Neu in an explicit fully hydrated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) lipid bilayer are presented. For the native TMD peptide, a 10.05 ns trajectory was collected, while for the mutant TMD peptides 5.05 ns trajectories were collected for each. The peptides in all three simulations display stable predominantly alpha-helical hydrogen bonding throughout the trajectories. The only significant exception occurs near the C-terminal end of the native and unprotonated mutant TMDs just outside the level of the lipid headgroups, where pi-helical hydrogen bonding develops, introducing a kink in the backbone structure. However, there is no indication of the formation of a pi bulge within the hydrophobic region of either native or mutant peptides. Over the course of the simulation of the mutant peptide, it is found that a significant number of water molecules penetrate the hydrophobic region of the surrounding lipid molecules, effectively hydrating Glu664. If the energy cost of such water penetration is significant enough, this may be a factor in the enhanced dimerization affinity of Glu664-mutant Neu.

Characterization of the Proto-oncogenic and Mutant Forms of the Transmembrane Region of Neu in Micelles

We have investigated peptides corresponding to the complete transmembrane region of both proto-oncogenic (Val(664)) and mutant (Glu(664)) forms of the receptor Neu in detergent micelles by NMR and CD spectroscopy. Both forms of the peptide appear to adopt similar levels of helicity and dimeric interactions based on the analysis of CD spectra and nuclear Overhauser effect connectivity profiles. There are considerable differences in the chemical shifts of amide and, to a lesser extent, CHalpha resonances between the two forms of the peptides, and these differences are most pronounced in residues upstream of the mutation site and close to the N terminus of the transmembrane domain. Similarly, there are substantial differences in the amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange rates for residues close to and upstream of the mutation site; amide protons in this region of the protooncogenic peptide are much more resistant to exchange than those in the mutant form. In both molecules, residues downstream of the mutation site exhibit slow exchange. We therefore demonstrate that, although transmembrane Neu peptides exhibit similar levels of secondary structure when dispersed in detergent, there are detectable differences in their adopted micellar states that may provide insight into the dimer-promoting ability of the polar transforming mutation.

Systematic Peptide Engineering and Structural Characterization to Search for the Shortest Antimicrobial Peptide Analogue of Gaegurin 5

As part of an effort to develop new, low molecular mass peptide antibiotics, we searched for the shortest bioactive analogue of gaegurin 5 (GGN5), a 24-residue antimicrobial peptide. Thirty-one kinds of GGN5 analogues were synthesized, and their biological activities were analyzed against diverse microorganisms and human erythrocytes. The structural properties of the peptides in various solutions were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The N-terminal 13 residues of GGN5 were identified as the minimal requirement for biological activity. The helical stability, the amphipathic property, and the hydrophobic N terminus were characterized as the important structural factors driving the activity. To develop shorter antibiotic peptides, amino acid substitutions in an inactive 11-residue analogue were examined. Single tryptophanyl substitutions at certain positions yielded some active 11-residue analogues. The most effective site for the substitution was the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface in the amphipathic helical structure. At this position, tryptophan was the most useful amino acid conferring favorable activity to the peptide. The introduced tryptophan played an important anchoring role for the membrane interaction of the peptides. Finally, two 11-residue analogues of GGN5, which exhibited strong bactericidal activity with little hemolytic activity, were obtained as property-optimized candidates for new peptide antibiotic development. Altogether, the present approach not only characterized some important factors for the antimicrobial activity but also provided useful information about peptide engineering to search for potent lead molecules for new peptide antibiotic development.