An Arg/Lys-->Gln mutant of recombinant murine myelin basic protein as a mimic of the deiminated form implicated in multiple sclerosis

Myelin Basic Protein Attenuates Furin-Mediated Bri2 Cleavage and Postpones Its Membrane Trafficking

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the second most abundant protein in the central nervous system and is responsible for structural maintenance of the myelin sheath covering axons. Previously, we showed that MBP has a more proactive role in the oligodendrocyte homeostasis, interacting with membrane-associated proteins, including integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2B or Bri2) that is associated with familial dementias. Here, we report that the molecular dynamics of the in silico-generated MBP-Bri2 complex revealed that MBP covers a significant portion of the Bri2 ectodomain, assumingly trapping the furin cleavage site, while the surface of the BRICHOS domain, which is responsible for the multimerization and activation of the Bri2 high-molecular-weight oligomer chaperone function, remains unmasked. These observations were supported by the co-expression of MBP with Bri2, its mature form, and disease-associated mutants, which showed that in mammalian cells, MBP indeed modulates the post-translational processing of Bri2 by restriction of the furin-catalyzed release of its C-terminal peptide. Moreover, we showed that the co-expression of MBP and Bri2 also leads to an altered cellular localization of Bri2, restricting its membrane trafficking independently of the MBP-mediated suppression of the Bri2 C-terminal peptide release. Further investigations should elucidate if these observations have physiological meaning in terms of Bri2 as a MBP chaperone activated by the MBP-dependent postponement of Bri2 membrane trafficking.

Impacts of Porphyromonas gingivalis periodontitis on rheumatoid arthritis autoimmunity

In RA patients' synovial sites, citrullinated RA-related antigens such as type II collagens, fibrin (ogen), vimentin, and α-enolase could be targeted by ACCPAs. Since ACCPA production can be initiated a long time before RA sign appearance, primary auto-immunization against these citrullinated proteins can be originated from extra-articular sites. It has been shown that there is a significant association between P. gingivalis periodontitis, anti- P. gingivalis antibodies, and RA. P. gingivalis gingipains (Rgp, Kgp) can degrade proteins such as fibrin and α-enolase into some peptides in the form of Arg in the C-terminal which is converted to citrulline by PPAD. Also, PPAD can citrullinate type II collagen and vimentins (SA antigen). P. gingivalis induces inflammation and chemoattraction of immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages through the increase of C5a (gingipain C5 convertase-like activity) and SCFA secretion. Besides, this microorganism stimulates anoikis, a special type of apoptosis, and NETosis, an antimicrobial form of neutrophil death, leading to the release of PAD1-4, α-enolase, and vimentin from apoptotic cells into the periodontal site. In addition, gingipains can degrade macrophages CD14 and decrease their ability in apoptotic cell removal. Gingipains also can cleave IgGs in the Fc region and transform them into rheumatoid factor (RF) antigens. In the present study, the effects of P. gingivalis on rheumatoid arthritis autoimmune response have been reviewed, which could attract practical insight both in bench and clinic.

Conformation of myelin basic protein bound to phosphatidylinositol membrane characterized by vacuum-ultraviolet circular-dichroism spectroscopy and molecular-dynamics simulations

The 18.5-kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) interacts with the membrane surface of the myelin sheath to construct its compact multilamellar structure. This study characterized the conformation of MBP in the membrane by measuring the vacuum-ultraviolet circular-dichroism (VUVCD) spectra of MBP in the bilayer liposome comprising the following essential lipid constituents of the myelin sheath: phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP), and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). The spectra of MBP exhibited the characteristic peaks of the helix structure in the presence of PI liposome, and the intensity increased markedly in the presence of PIP and PIP2 liposomes to show an isodichroic point. This suggests that the amount of the membrane-bound conformation of MBP enhanced due to the increased number of negative net charges on the liposome surfaces. Secondary-structure analysis revealed that MBP in the membrane comprised approximately 40% helix contents and eight helix segments. Molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of the eight segments were conducted for 250 ns in the presence of PI membrane, which predicted two amphiphilic and three nonamphiphilic helices as the membrane-interaction sites. Further analysis of the distances of the amino-acid residues in each segment from the phosphate group suggested that the nonamphiphilic helices interact with the membrane surface electrostatically, while the amphiphilic ones invade the inside of the membrane to produce electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. These results show that MBP can interact with the PI membrane via amphiphilic and nonamphiphilic helices under the control of a delicate balance between electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.

Optimal Mutant Model of Human S100A3 Protein Citrullinated at Arg51 by Peptidylarginine Deiminase Type III and Its Solution Structural Properties

S100A3 protein, a member of the EF-hand-type Ca²⁺-binding S100 protein family, undergoes a Ca²⁺-/Zn²⁺-induced structural change to a tetrameric state upon specific citrullination of R51 in human hair cuticular cells. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we prepared recombinant mutant S100A3 proteins, including R51A, R51C, R51E, R51K, and R51Q, as potential models of post-translationally modified S100A3 and evaluated their biophysical and biochemical properties relative to wild-type (WT) S100A3 and WT citrullinated in vitro. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that R51Q formed a tetramer in the presence of Ca²⁺, while Ca²⁺ titration monitored by Trp fluorescence indicated that R51Q had Ca²⁺-binding properties similar to those of citrullinated S1003A. We therefore concluded that R51Q is the optimal mutant model of post-translationally modified S100A3. We compared the solution structure of WT S100A3 and the R51Q mutant in the absence and presence of Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by SEC-small-angle X-ray scattering. The radius of gyration of R51Q in the metal-free state was almost the same as that of WT; however, it increased by ∼1.5-fold in the presence of Ca²⁺/Zn²⁺, indicating a large expansion in molecular size. By contrast, addition of Ca²⁺/Zn²⁺ to WT led to nonspecific aggregation in SEC analysis and dynamic light scattering, suggesting that citrullination of S100A3 is essential for stabilization of the Ca²⁺-/Zn²⁺-bound state. These findings will lead to the further development of structural analyses for the Ca²⁺-/Zn²⁺-bound S100A3.

Myelin basic protein (MBP) charge variants show different sphingomyelin-mediated interactions with myelin-like lipid monolayers

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is correlated with increased deimination of myelin basic protein (MBP) in the central nervous system. Here, the interaction of MBP C1 (charge: +19) and MBP C8 (charge: +13) with the major lipids of the cytoplasmic side of the oligodendrocyte membrane is analysed using monolayer adsorption experiments and epifluorescence microscopy. Our findings show that the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged proteins and negatively charged lipids in the myelin-like monolayers competes with the incorporation of MBP into regions directly bordering cholesterol-rich domains. The latter is favoured to avoid additional lipid condensation and reduction in fluidity of the phospholipid layer. We find that MBP C1 does not incorporate at the cholesterol-rich domains if sphingomyelin (SM) is absent from the lipid composition. In contrast, MBP C8 is still incorporated near cholesterol-enriched regions without SM. Thus, the highly charged C1 variant needs a specific interaction with SM, whereas for C8 the incorporation at the cholesterol-rich regions is ensured due to its reduced net positive charge. This phenomenon may be relevant for the correlation of higher amounts of MBP C8 in brains of adult MS patients and healthy children, in which the amount of SM is reduced compared to healthy adults.

Human Deiminases: Isoforms, Substrate Specificities, Kinetics, and Detection

Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes are of enormous interest in biomedicine. They catalyze the conversion of a positively-charged guanidinium at an arginine side chain into a neutral ureido group. As a result of this conversion, proteins acquire the non-ribosomally encoded amino acid "citrulline". This imposes critical influences on the structure and function of the target molecules. In multiple sclerosis, myelin hyper-citrullination promotes demyelination by reducing its compaction and triggers auto-antibody production. Immune responses to citrulline-containing proteins play a central role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Moreover, auto-antibodies, specific to citrullinated proteins, such as collagen type I and II and filaggrin, are early detectable in rheumatoid arthritis, serving as diagnostic markers of the disease. Despite their significance, little is understood about the role in demyelinating disorders, diversified cancers, and auto-immune diseases. To impart their biological and pathological effects, it is crucial to better understand the reaction mechanism, kinetic properties, substrate selection, and specificities of peptidylarginine deiminase isoforms.Many aspects of PAD biochemistry and physiology have been ignored in past, but, herein is presented a comprehensive survey to improve our current understandings of the underlying mechanism and regulation of PAD enzymes.

Proton detection for signal enhancement in solid-state NMR experiments on mobile species in membrane proteins

Direct proton detection is becoming an increasingly popular method for enhancing sensitivity in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Generally, these experiments require extensive deuteration of the protein, fast magic angle spinning (MAS), or a combination of both. Here, we implement direct proton detection to selectively observe the mobile entities in fully-protonated membrane proteins at moderate MAS frequencies. We demonstrate this method on two proteins that exhibit different motional regimes. Myelin basic protein is an intrinsically-disordered, peripherally membrane-associated protein that is highly flexible, whereas Anabaena sensory rhodopsin is composed of seven rigid transmembrane α-helices connected by mobile loop regions. In both cases, we observe narrow proton linewidths and, on average, a 10× increase in sensitivity in 2D insensitive nuclear enhancement of polarization transfer-based HSQC experiments when proton detection is compared to carbon detection. We further show that our proton-detected experiments can be easily extended to three dimensions and used to build complete amino acid systems, including sidechain protons, and obtain inter-residue correlations. Additionally, we detect signals which do not correspond to amino acids, but rather to lipids and/or carbohydrates which interact strongly with membrane proteins.

MyelStones: the executive roles of myelin basic protein in myelin assembly and destabilization in multiple sclerosis

The classic isoforms of myelin basic protein (MBP, 14–21.5 kDa) are essential to formation of the multilamellar myelin sheath of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). The predominant 18.5-kDa isoform links together the cytosolic surfaces of oligodendrocytes, but additionally participates in cytoskeletal turnover and membrane extension, Fyn-mediated signalling pathways, sequestration of phosphoinositides and maintenance of calcium homoeostasis. All MBP isoforms are intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that interact via molecular recognition fragments (MoRFs), which thereby undergo local disorder-to-order transitions. Their conformations and associations are modulated by environment and by a dynamic barcode of post-translational modifications, particularly phosphorylation by mitogen-activated and other protein kinases and deimination [a hallmark of demyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS)]. The MBPs are thus to myelin what basic histones are to chromatin. Originally thought to be merely structural proteins forming an inert spool, histones are now known to be dynamic entities involved in epigenetic regulation and diseases such as cancer. Analogously, the MBPs are not mere adhesives of compact myelin, but active participants in oligodendrocyte proliferation and in membrane process extension and stabilization during myelinogenesis. A central segment of these proteins is pivotal in membrane-anchoring and SH3 domain (Src homology 3) interaction. We discuss in the present review advances in our understanding of conformational conversions of this classic basic protein upon membrane association, including new thermodynamic analyses of transitions into different structural ensembles and how a shift in the pattern of its post-translational modifications is associated with the pathogenesis and potentially onset of demyelination in MS.

Blood serum amino acids profile in patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, affecting mostly young people. There were many risk factors for MS identified, however a direct cause of the disease is still unknown. Pathological changes in the SM lead to the myelin sheath damage around axons, what prevents proper transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was analyzing and comparing the amino acids profile in the blood serum of MS patients to control group of healthy individuals and evaluating the relationship between them. Significant (p<0.05) differences in the level of glutamate, aspartate and taurine in the blood serum of MS patients were revealed. A positive glutamate and aspartate level correlation in the serum has been demonstrated. Gender is significant only in the case of glutamate level in blood serum. The studies highlight the important role of neurotransmitters in MS and are the initial step in proteomic research.

Myelin-specific proteins: a structurally diverse group of membrane-interacting molecules

The myelin sheath is a multilayered membrane in the nervous system, which has unique biochemical properties. Myelin carries a set of specific high-abundance proteins, the structure and function of which are still poorly understood. The proteins of the myelin sheath are involved in a number of neurological diseases, including autoimmune diseases and inherited neuropathies. In this review, we briefly discuss the structural properties and functions of selected myelin-specific proteins (P0, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, myelin basic protein, myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein, P2, proteolipid protein, peripheral myelin protein of 22 kDa, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, and periaxin); such properties include, for example, interactions with lipid bilayers and the presence of large intrinsically disordered regions in some myelin proteins. A detailed understanding of myelin protein structure and function at the molecular level will be required to fully grasp their physiological roles in the myelin sheath.

Classic 18.5- and 21.5-kDa myelin basic protein isoforms associate with cytoskeletal and SH3-domain proteins in the immortalized N19-oligodendroglial cell line stimulated by phorbol ester and IGF-1

The 18.5-kDa classic myelin basic protein (MBP) is an intrinsically disordered protein arising from the Golli (Genes of Oligodendrocyte Lineage) gene complex and is responsible for compaction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. This MBP splice isoform also has a plethora of post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, deimination, methylation, and deamidation, that reduce its overall net charge and alter its protein and lipid associations within oligodendrocytes (OLGs). It was originally thought that MBP was simply a structural component of myelin; however, additional investigations have demonstrated that MBP is multi-functional, having numerous protein-protein interactions with Ca²⁺-calmodulin, actin, tubulin, and proteins with SH3-domains, and it can tether these proteins to a lipid membrane in vitro. Here, we have examined cytoskeletal interactions of classic 18.5-kDa MBP, in vivo, using early developmental N19-OLGs transfected with fluorescently-tagged MBP, actin, tubulin, and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1). We show that MBP redistributes to distinct 'membrane-ruffled' regions of the plasma membrane where it co-localizes with actin and tubulin, and with the SH3-domain-containing proteins cortactin and ZO-1, when stimulated with PMA, a potent activator of the protein kinase C pathway. Moreover, using phospho-specific antibody staining, we show an increase in phosphorylated Thr98 MBP (human sequence numbering) in membrane-ruffled OLGs. Previously, Thr98 phosphorylation of MBP has been shown to affect its conformation, interactions with other proteins, and tethering of other proteins to the membrane in vitro. Here, MBP and actin were also co-localized in new focal adhesion contacts induced by IGF-1 stimulation in cells grown on laminin-2. This study supports a role for classic MBP isoforms in cytoskeletal and other protein-protein interactions during membrane and cytoskeletal remodeling in OLGs.

Proline substitutions and threonine pseudophosphorylation of the SH3 ligand of 18.5-kDa myelin basic protein decrease its affinity for the Fyn-SH3 domain and alter process development and protein localization in oligodendrocytes

The developmentally regulated myelin basic proteins (MBPs), which arise from the golli (gene of oligodendrocyte lineage) complex, are highly positively charged, intrinsically disordered, multifunctional proteins having several alternatively spliced isoforms and posttranslational modifications, and they play key roles in myelin compaction. The classic 18.5-kDa MBP isoform has a proline-rich region comprising amino acids 92-99 (murine sequence -T(92)PRTPPPS(99)-) that contains a minimal SH3 ligand domain. We have previously shown that 18.5-kDa MBP binds to several SH3 domains, including that of Fyn, a member of the Src family of tyrosine kinases involved in a number of signaling pathways during CNS development. To determine the physiological role of this binding as well as the role of phosphorylation of Thr92 and Thr95, in the current study we have produced several MBP variants specifically targeting phosphorylation sites and key structural regions of MBP's SH3 ligand domain. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, we have demonstrated that, compared with the wild-type protein, these variants have lower affinity for the SH3 domain of Fyn. Moreover, overexpression of N-terminal-tagged GFP versions in immortalized oligodendroglial N19 and N20.1 cell cultures results in aberrant elongation of membrane processes and increased branching complexity and inhibits the ability of MBP to decrease Ca(2+) influx. Phosphorylation of Thr92 can also cause MBP to traffic to the nucleus, where it may participate in additional protein-protein interactions. Coexpression of MBP with a constitutively active form of Fyn kinase resulted in membrane process elaboration, a phenomenon that was abolished by point amino acid substitutions in MBP's SH3 ligand domain. These results suggest that MBP's SH3 ligand domain plays a key role in intracellular protein interactions in vivo and may be required for proper membrane elaboration of developing oligodendrocytes and, further, that phosphorylation of Thr92 and Thr95 can regulate this function.

Charge isomers of myelin basic protein: structure and interactions with membranes, nucleotide analogues, and calmodulin

As an essential structural protein required for tight compaction of the central nervous system myelin sheath, myelin basic protein (MBP) is one of the candidate autoantigens of the human inflammatory demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis, which is characterized by the active degradation of the myelin sheath. In this work, recombinant murine analogues of the natural C1 and C8 charge components (rmC1 and rmC8), two isoforms of the classic 18.5-kDa MBP, were used as model proteins to get insights into the structure and function of the charge isomers. Various biochemical and biophysical methods such as size exclusion chromatography, calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy, and conventional as well as synchrotron radiation circular dichroism were used to investigate differences between these two isoforms, both from the structural point of view, and regarding interactions with ligands, including calmodulin (CaM), various detergents, nucleotide analogues, and lipids. Overall, our results provide further proof that rmC8 is deficient both in structure and especially in function, when compared to rmC1. While the CaM binding properties of the two forms are very similar, their interactions with membrane mimics are different. CaM can be used to remove MBP from immobilized lipid monolayers made of synthetic lipids--a phenomenon, which may be of relevance for MBP function and its regulation. Furthermore, using fluorescently labelled nucleotides, we observed binding of ATP and GTP, but not AMP, by MBP; the binding of nucleoside triphosphates was inhibited by the presence of CaM. Together, our results provide important further data on the interactions between MBP and its ligands, and on the differences in the structure and function between MBP charge isomers.

Adduction of cholesterol 5,6-secosterol aldehyde to membrane-bound myelin basic protein exposes an immunodominant epitope

Myelin degradation in the central nervous system (CNS) is a clinical hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS). A reduction in the net positive charge of myelin basic protein (MBP) via deimination of arginine to citrulline has been shown to correlate strongly with disease severity and has been linked to myelin instability and a defect that precedes neurodegeneration and leads to autoimmune attack. Recently, we have shown that lipid-derived aldehydes, such as cholesterol 5,6-secosterols atheronal A (1a) and atheronal B (1b), modulate the misfolding of certain proteins such as apolipoprotein B(100), β-amyloid, α-synuclein, and κ- and λ-antibody light chains in a process involving adduction of the hydrophobic aldehyde to lysine side chains, resulting in a decrease in the net positive charge of the protein. In this study, we show that the presence of either atheronal A (1a) or atheronal B (1b) in large unilamellar vesicles (cyt-LUVs) with the lipid composition found in the cytosolic myelin sheath and bovine MBP (bMBP) leads to an atheronal concentration-dependent increase in the surface exposure of the immunodominant epitope (V86-T98) as determined by antibody binding. Other structural changes in bMBP were also observed; specifically, 1a and 1b induce a decrease in the surface exposure of L36-P50 relative to control cyt-LUVs as measured both by antibody binding and by a reduction in the level of cathepsin D proteolysis of F42 and F43. Structure-activity relationship studies with analogues of 1a and 1b point to the aldehyde moiety of both compounds being critical to their effects on bMBP structure. The atheronals also cause a reduction in the size of the bMBP-cyt-LUV aggregates, as determined by fluorescence microscopy and dynamic light scattering. These results suggest that formation of an imine between inflammatory-derived aldehydes, which effectively reduces the cationic nature of MBP, can lead to structural changes in MBP and a decrease in myelin stability akin to deimination and as such may make a hitherto unknown contribution to the onset and progression of MS.

Citrullination of inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) by peptidylarginine deminase 4 (PAD4) disrupts the interaction between ING4 and p53

Gene expression is regulated by a number of interrelated posttranslational modifications of histones, including citrullination. For example, peptidylarginine deminase 4 (PAD4) converts peptidyl arginine to citrulline in histone H3 and can repress gene expression. However, regulation of gene expression through citrullination of non-histone proteins is less well defined. Herein, we identify a tumor suppressor protein, inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4), as a novel non-histone substrate of PAD4. ING4 is known to bind p53 via its nuclear localization signal (NLS) region and to enhance transcriptional activity of p53. We show that PAD4 preferentially citrullinates ING4 in the same NLS region and thereby disrupts the interaction between ING4 and p53. A citrulline-mimicking Arg-NLS-Gln ING4 mutant, which has all Arg residues in the NLS mutated to Gln, loses its affinity for p53, can no longer promote p53 acetylation, and results in repression of downstream p21 expression. In addition, we found that citrullination leads to increased susceptibility of ING4 to degradation, likely impacting p53-independent pathways as well. These findings elucidate an interaction between posttranslational citrullination, acetylation, and methylation and highlight an unusual mechanism whereby citrullination of a non-histone protein impacts gene regulation.

Classical 18.5-and 21.5-kDa isoforms of myelin basic protein inhibit calcium influx into oligodendroglial cells, in contrast to golli isoforms

The myelin basic protein (MBP) family arises from different transcription start sites of the golli (gene of oligodendrocyte lineage) complex, with further variety generated by differential splicing. The "classical" MBP isoforms are peripheral membrane proteins that facilitate compaction of the mature myelin sheath but also have multiple protein interactions. The early developmental golli isoforms have previously been shown to promote process extension and enhance Ca(2+) influx into primary and immortalized oligodendrocyte cell lines. Here, we have performed similar studies with the classical 18.5- and 21.5-kDa isoforms of MBP. In contrast to golli proteins, overexpression of classical MBP isoforms significantly reduces Ca(2+) influx in the oligodendrocyte cell line N19 as well as in primary cultures of oligodendroglial progenitor cells. Pharmacological experiments demonstrate that this effect is mediated by voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels (VOCCs) and not by ligand-gated Ca(2+) channels or Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores. The pseudo-deiminated 18.5-kDa and the full-length 21.5-kDa isoforms do not reduce Ca(2+) influx as much as the unmodified 18.5-kDa isoform. However, more efficient membrane localization (of overexpressed, pseudo-deiminated 18.5-kDa and 21.5-kDa isoforms of classical MBP containing the 21-nt 3'-untranslated region transit signal) further reduces the Ca(2+) response after plasma membrane depolarization, suggesting that binding of classical MBP isoforms to the plasma membrane is important for modulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis. Furthermore, we have found that the mature 18.5-kDa isoform expressed in oligodendrocytes colocalizes with VOCCs, particularly at the leading edge of extending membrane processes. In summary, our findings suggest a key role for classical MBP proteins in regulating voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels at the plasma membrane of oligodendroglial cells and thus also in regulation of multiple developmental stages in this cell lineage.

Myelin basic protein binds microtubules to a membrane surface and to actin filaments in vitro: effect of phosphorylation and deimination

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a multifunctional protein involved in maintaining the stability and integrity of the myelin sheath by a variety of interactions with membranes and other proteins. It assembles actin filaments and microtubules, can bind actin filaments and SH3-domains to a membrane surface, and may be able to tether them to the oligodendrocyte membrane and participate in signal transduction in oligodendrocytes/myelin. In the present study, we have shown that the 18.5 kDa MBP isoform can also bind microtubules to lipid vesicles in vitro. Phosphorylation of MBP at Thr94 and Thr97 (bovine sequence) by MAPK, and deimination of MBP (using a pseudo-deiminated recombinant form), had little detectable effect on its ability to polymerize and bundle microtubules, in contrast to the effect of these modifications on MBP-mediated assembly of actin. However, these modifications dramatically decreased the ability of MBP to tether microtubules to lipid vesicles. MBP and its phosphorylated and pseudo-deiminated variants were also able to bind microtubules to actin filaments. These results suggest that MBP may be able to tether microtubules to the cytoplasmic surface of the oligodendrocyte membrane, and that this binding can be regulated by post-translational modifications to MBP. We further show that MBP appears to be co-localized with actin filaments and microtubules in cultured oligodendrocytes, and also at the interface between actin filaments at the leading edge of membrane processes and microtubules behind them. Thus, MBP may also cross-link microtubules to actin filaments in vivo.

Interaction of myelin basic protein with actin in the presence of dodecylphosphocholine micelles

The 18.5 kDa myelin basic protein (MBP), the most abundant splice isoform in human adult myelin, is a multifunctional, intrinsically disordered protein that maintains compact assembly of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. Protein deimination and phosphorylation are two key posttranslational modifications whose balance determines local myelin microdomain stability and function. It has previously been shown that MBP in solution causes both polymerization of G-actin to F-actin and bundling of the microfilaments, and binds them to a negatively charged membrane. However, the binding parameters, and the roles of different possible interacting domains of membrane-associated MBP, have not yet been investigated. Here, we compared the interaction of unmodified (rmC1) and pseudodeiminated (rmC8) recombinant murine MBP (full-length charge variants), and of two terminal deletion variants (rmDeltaC and rmDeltaN), with actin in the presence of DPC (dodecylphosphocholine) to mimic a membrane environment. Our results show that although both charge variants polymerized and bundled actin, the maximal polymerization/bundling due to rmC1 occurred at a lower molar ratio compared to rmC8. In the presence of DPC, rmC1 appeared to be more active than rmC8 in its ability to polymerize and bundle actin, and the binding affinity of both charge variants to G-actin became higher. Moreover, of the two deletion variants studied in the presence of DPC, the one lacking the C-terminal domain (rmDeltaC) was more active compared to the variant lacking the N-terminal domain (rmDeltaN) but exhibited weaker binding to actin. Thus, whereas the N-terminal domain of MBP can be more important for the MBP's actin polymerization activity and membrane-association, the C-terminal domain can regulate its interaction with actin.

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy of membrane-associated myelin basic protein--conformation and dynamics of an immunodominant epitope

Myelin basic protein (MBP) maintains the tight multilamellar compaction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system through peripheral binding of adjacent lipid bilayers of oligodendrocytes. Myelin instability in multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with the loss of positive charge in MBP as a result of posttranslational enzymatic deimination. A highly-conserved central membrane-binding fragment (murine N81-PVVHFFKNIVTPRTPPP-S99, identical to human N83-S101) represents a primary immunodominant epitope in MS. Previous low-resolution electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on the V83-T92 fragment, with Cys-mutations and spin-labeling that scanned the epitope, were consistent with it being a membrane-associated amphipathic alpha-helix. Pseudodeimination at several sites throughout the protein, all distal to the central segment, disrupted the alpha-helix at its amino-terminus and exposed it to proteases, representing a potential mechanism in the autoimmune pathogenesis of MS. Here, we have used magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy to characterize more precisely the molecular conformation and dynamics of this central immunodominant epitope of MBP in a lipid milieu, without Cys-substitution. Our solid-state NMR measurements have revealed that the alpha-helix present within the immunodominant epitope is shorter than originally modeled, and is independent of the pseudodeimination, highlighting the importance of the local hydrophobic effects in helix formation and stability. The main effect of pseudodeimination is to cause the cytoplasmic exposure of the fragment, potentially making it more accessible to proteolysis. These results are the first, to our knowledge, to provide atomic-level detail of a membrane-anchoring segment of MBP, and direct evidence of decreased MBP-membrane interaction after posttranslational modification.

Myelin basic protein and myelin protein 2 act synergistically to cause stacking of lipid bilayers

Saltatory conduction of nerve impulses along axonal membranes depends on the presence of a multilayered membrane, myelin, that wraps around the axon. Myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin protein 2 (P2) are intimately involved in the generation of the myelin sheath. They are also implicated in a number of neurological diseases, including autoimmune diseases of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Here, we have used atomic force microsopy (AFM) to study the effects of MBP and P2 on lipid bilayers. MBP in association with a mica substrate appeared unstructured, and tended to coat the mica surface in the form of a monolayer. In contrast, P2 appeared as discrete particles, with molecular volumes consistent with the formation of both monomers and dimers. Either MBP or P2, at micromolar concentrations, caused stacking of brain lipid bilayers. This stacking effect was significantly potentiated when both proteins were added together. Bilayers composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS) were stacked by MBP, provided that cholesterol was also present; in contrast, P2 did not stack PC/PS/cholesterol bilayers. Hence, the bilayer stacking effects of the two proteins have different lipid requirements.

Influence of membrane surface charge and post-translational modifications to myelin basic protein on its ability to tether the Fyn-SH3 domain to a membrane in vitro

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a highly post-translationally modified, multifunctional structural component of central nervous system myelin, adhering to phospholipid membranes and assembling cytoskeletal proteins, and has previously been shown to bind SH3 domains in vitro and tether them to a membrane surface [Polverini, E., et al. (2008) Biochemistry 47, 267-282]. Since molecular modeling shows that the Fyn-SH3 domain has a negative surface charge density even after binding the MBP ligand, we have investigated the influence of negative membrane surface charge and the effects of post-translational modifications to MBP on the interaction of the Fyn-SH3 domain with membrane-associated MBP. Using a sedimentation assay with multilamellar vesicles consisting of neutral phosphatidylcholine (PC) and negatively charged phosphatidylinositol (PI), we demonstrate that increasing the negative surface charge of the membrane by increasing the proportion of PI reduces the amount of Fyn-SH3 domain that binds to membrane-associated MBP, due to electrostatic repulsion. When one of the phosphoinositides, PI(4)P or PI(4,5)P(2) was substituted for PI in equal proportion, none of the Fyn-SH3 domain bound to MBP under the conditions that were used. Post-translational modifications of MBP which reduced its net positive charge, i.e., phosphorylation or arginine deimination, increased the degree of repulsion of Fyn-SH3 from the membrane surface, an effect further modulated by the lipid charge. This study suggests that changes in membrane negative surface charge due to protein or lipid modifications, which could occur during cell signaling, can regulate the binding of the Fyn-SH3 domain to membrane-associated MBP and thus could regulate the activity of Fyn at the oligodendrocyte membrane surface.

Misincorporation of the proline homologue Aze (azetidine-2-carboxylic acid) into recombinant myelin basic protein

We have evaluated the effects of the proline homologue Aze (1) (azetidine-2-carboxylic acid) on growth of Escherichia coli strains used to over-express recombinant forms of murine myelin basic protein (rmMBP), and on the degree of misincorporation. Addition of Aze to minimal media resulted in severe diminution of growth rate, but rmMBP could still be produced and purified. Mass spectrometry indicated that a detectable proportion of the rmMBP produced had incorporated Aze instead of proline (Pro), to a maximum of three of eleven possible sites. Molecular modelling of a proline-rich region of rmMBP illustrated that the misincorporation of Aze at any site would cause a severe bend in the polypeptide chain, and that multiple Pro-->Aze substitutions would completely disrupt a poly-proline type II structure that has been conjectured to be functionally significant.

Induced secondary structure and polymorphism in an intrinsically disordered structural linker of the CNS: solid-state NMR and FTIR spectroscopy of myelin basic protein bound to actin

The 18.5 kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) is a peripheral membrane protein that maintains the structural integrity of the myelin sheath of the central nervous system by conjoining the cytoplasmic leaflets of oligodendrocytes and by linking the myelin membrane to the underlying cytoskeleton whose assembly it strongly promotes. It is a multifunctional, intrinsically disordered protein that behaves primarily as a structural stabilizer, but with elements of a transient or induced secondary structure that represent binding sites for calmodulin or SH3-domain-containing proteins, inter alia. In this study we used solid-state NMR (SSNMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to study the conformation of 18.5 kDa MBP in association with actin microfilaments and bundles. FTIR spectroscopy of fully (13)C,(15)N-labeled MBP complexed with unlabeled F-actin showed induced folding of both protein partners, viz., some increase in beta-sheet content in actin, and increases in both alpha-helix and beta-sheet content in MBP, albeit with considerable extended structure remaining. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy revealed that MBP in MBP-actin assemblies is structurally heterogeneous but gains ordered secondary structure elements (both alpha-helical and beta-sheet), particularly in the terminal fragments and in a central immunodominant epitope. The overall conformational polymorphism of MBP is consistent with its in vivo roles as both a linker (membranes and cytoskeleton) and a putative signaling hub.

Divalent cations induce a compaction of intrinsically disordered myelin basic protein

Central nervous system myelin is a dynamic entity arising from membrane processes extended from oligodendrocytes, which form a tightly-wrapped multilamellar structure around neurons. In mature myelin, the predominant splice isoform of classic MBP is 18.5kDa. In solution, MBP is an extended, intrinsically disordered protein with a large effective protein surface for myriad interactions, and possesses transient and/or induced ordered secondary structure elements for molecular association or recognition. Here, we show by nanopore analysis that the divalent cations copper and zinc induce a compaction of the extended protein in vitro, suggestive of a tertiary conformation that may reflect its arrangement in myelin.

Myelin basic protein as a "PI(4,5)P2-modulin": a new biological function for a major central nervous system protein

The 18.5 kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) is multifunctional and has previously been shown to have structural and phenomenological similarities with domains of other membrane- and cytoskeleton-associated proteins such as MARCKS (myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate). Here, we have investigated whether 18.5 kDa MBP can sequester phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bis-phosphate (PI(4,5)P 2) in membranes, like MARCKS and other "PIPmodulins" do. Using fluorescence-quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and model membranes containing BODIPY-FL- or proxyl-labeled PI(4,5)P 2, respectively, we have demonstrated that MBP laterally sequesters PI(4,5)P 2. The MBP-PI(4,5)P 2 interactions are electrostatic, partially cholesterol-dependent, and sensitive to phosphorylation, deimination, and Ca (2+)-CaM binding. Confocal microscopy of cultured oligodendrocytes also revealed patched colocalization of MBP and PI(4,5)P 2, indicating the spatial clustering of PI(4,5)P 2 in the plasma membrane. On the basis of these findings as well as the overwhelming convergence of functional properties, modifying enzymes, and interaction partners, we propose that MBP is mechanistically related to GAP-43, MARCKS, and CAP-23. During myelinogenesis, it may mediate calcium and phosphorylation-sensitive plasma membrane availability of PI(4,5)P 2. This regulation of PI(4,5)P 2 availability at the cell cortex may be coupled to the elaboration and outgrowth of the membranous cellular processes by oligodendrocytes.

Solution NMR and CD spectroscopy of an intrinsically disordered, peripheral membrane protein: evaluation of aqueous and membrane-mimetic solvent conditions for studying the conformational adaptability of the 18.5 kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP)

The stability and secondary structure propensity of recombinant murine 18.5 kDa myelin basic protein (rmMBP, 176 residues) was assessed using circular dichroic and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-15N HSQC experiments) to determine the optimal sample conditions for further NMR studies (i.e., resonance assignments and protein-protein interactions). Six solvent conditions were selected based on their ability to stabilise the protein, and their tractability to currently standard solution NMR methodology. Selected solvent conditions were further characterised as functions of concentration, temperature, and pH. The results of these trials indicated that 30% TFE-d2 in H2O (v/v), pH 6.5 at 300 K, and 100 mM KCl, pH 6.5 at 277 K were the best conditions to use for future solution NMR studies of MBP. Micelles of DPC were found to be inappropriate for backbone resonance assignments of rmMBP in this instance.

Backbone dynamics of the 18.5 kDa isoform of myelin basic protein reveals transient alpha-helices and a calmodulin-binding site

The 18.5 kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) is the predominant form in adult human central nervous system myelin. It is an intrinsically disordered protein that functions both in membrane adhesion, and as a linker connecting the oligodendrocyte membrane to the underlying cytoskeleton; its specific interactions with calmodulin and SH3-domain containing proteins suggest further multifunctionality in signaling. Here, we have used multidimensional heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the conformational dependence on environment of the protein in aqueous solution (100 mM KCl) and in a membrane-mimetic solvent (30% TFE-d(2)), particularly to analyze its secondary structure using chemical shift indexing, and to investigate its backbone dynamics using (15)N spin relaxation measurements. Collectively, the data revealed three major segments of the protein with a propensity toward alpha-helicity that was stabilized by membrane-mimetic conditions: T33-D46, V83-T92, and T142-L154 (murine 18.5 kDa sequence numbering). All of these regions corresponded with bioinformatics predictions of ordered secondary structure. The V83-T92 region comprises a primary immunodominant epitope that had previously been shown by site-directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to be alpha-helical in membrane-reconstituted systems. The T142-L154 segment overlapped with a predicted calmodulin-binding site. Chemical shift perturbation experiments using labeled MBP and unlabeled calmodulin demonstrated a dramatic conformational change in MBP upon association of the two proteins, and were consistent with the C-terminal segment of MBP being the primary binding site for calmodulin.

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy of 18.5 kDa myelin basic protein reconstituted with lipid vesicles: spectroscopic characterisation and spectral assignments of solvent-exposed protein fragments

Myelin basic protein (MBP, 18.5 kDa isoform) is a peripheral membrane protein that is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the multilamellar myelin sheath of the central nervous system. Reconstitution of the most abundant 18.5 kDa MBP isoform with lipid vesicles yields an aggregated assembly mimicking the protein's natural environment, but which is not amenable to standard solution NMR spectroscopy. On the other hand, the mobility of MBP in such a system is variable, depends on the local strength of the protein-lipid interaction, and in general is of such a time scale that the dipolar interactions are averaged out. Here, we used a combination of solution and solid-state NMR (ssNMR) approaches: J-coupling-driven polarization transfers were combined with magic angle spinning and high-power decoupling to yield high-resolution spectra of the mobile fragments of 18.5 kDa murine MBP in membrane-associated form. To partially circumvent the problem of short transverse relaxation, we implemented three-dimensional constant-time correlation experiments (NCOCX, NCACX, CONCACX, and CAN(CO)CX) that were able to provide interresidue and intraresidue backbone correlations. These experiments resulted in partial spectral assignments for mobile fragments of the protein. Additional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY)-based experiments revealed that the mobile fragments were exposed to solvent and were likely located outside the lipid bilayer, or in its hydrophilic portion. Chemical shift index analysis showed that the fragments were largely disordered under these conditions. These combined approaches are applicable to ssNMR investigations of other peripheral membrane proteins reconstituted with lipids.

NMR assignment of an intrinsically disordered protein under physiological conditions: the 18.5 kDa isoform of murine myelin basic protein

We report the NMR assignment of 18.5 kDa recombinant murine myelin basic protein (MBP) in 100 mM KCl as a prerequisite to structural analyses of its Ca2+-dependent interaction with calmodulin.

Purification and spectroscopic characterization of the recombinant BG21 isoform of murine golli myelin basic protein

A recombinant form of the murine Golli-myelin basic protein (MBP) isoform BG21 (rmBG21) has been expressed in E. coli, and isolated to 96% purity via metal chelation chromatography. Characteristic yields were 6-8 mg protein per liter of culture in either minimal M9 or standard Luria-Bertani media. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that rmBG21 had a large proportion of random coil in aqueous solution, but gained alpha-helix in the presence of monosialoganglioside G(M1) and PI(4)P, as well as in the membrane-mimetic solvent trifluoroethanol. Bioinformatics analyses of the amino acid sequence of rmBG21 predicted an N-terminal calmodulin (CaM)-binding site. It was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering that rmBG21 and CaM interacted weakly in a 1:1 ratio in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Solution NMR spectra of uniformly [(13)C(15)N]-labeled protein in aqueous buffer were consistent with it being an extended protein; spectral quality was independent of temperature. Thus, like "classic" MBP and the Golli-MBP isoform J37, rmBG21 is intrinsically disordered, implying multi functionality, and that its conformation depends on its environment and bound ligands.

Molecular "negativity" may underlie multiple sclerosis: role of the myelin basic protein family in the pathogenesis of MS

Myelin basic protein (MBP) binds to negatively charged lipids on the cytosolic surface of oligodendrocyte membranes and is responsible for adhesion of these surfaces in the multilayered myelin sheath. The pattern of extensive posttranslational modifications of MBP is dynamic during normal central nervous system development and during myelin degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting its interactions with the myelin membranes and other proteins. In particular, the degree of deimination (or citrullination) of MBP is correlated with the severity of MS, and may represent a primary defect that precedes neurodegeneration due to autoimmune attack. That MBP deimination also affects topological accessibility of an otherwise partially buried immunodominant epitope of the protein indicates that this modification may play a major role in the autoimmune pathogenesis of the disease. In this chapter, we describe the structural and functional consequences of MBP deimination in healthy and diseased myelin.

A Tale of Two Citrullines—Structural and Functional Aspects of Myelin Basic Protein Deimination in Health and Disease

Myelin basic protein (MBP) binds to negatively charged lipids on the cytosolic surface of oligodendrocyte membranes and is responsible for adhesion of these surfaces in the multilayered myelin sheath. The pattern of extensive post-translational modifications of MBP is dynamic during normal central nervous system (CNS) development and during myelin degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting its interactions with the myelin membranes and with other molecules. In particular, the degree of deimination (or citrullination) of MBP is correlated with the severity of MS, and may represent a primary defect that precedes neurodegeneration due to autoimmune attack. That the degree of MBP deimination is also high in early CNS development indicates that this modification plays major physiological roles in myelin assembly. In this review, we describe the structural and functional consequences of MBP deimination in healthy and diseased myelin.

Deimination of membrane-bound myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis exposes an immunodominant epitope

The degradation of myelin in the CNS is the hallmark of multiple sclerosis. Reduction in the net positive charge of myelin basic protein (MBP), through deimination, correlates strongly with disease severity and may mediate myelin instability and loss of compaction. Using Cys scanning, spin labeling, EPR spectroscopy, and site-specific proteolysis, we show that in the membrane-bound state the primary immunodominant epitope, V83-T92, of the less cationic recombinant murine MBP C8 mimic (rmC8) forms a more highly surface-exposed and shorter amphipathic alpha-helix than in the unmodified form, recombinant murine MBP C1 mimic (rmC1), analogous to the most cationic and abundant isomer of MBP in normal myelin. Moreover, cathepsin D digested lipid-associated rmC8 3-fold faster than rmC1, and cleavage at F86-F87 occurred more readily in rmC8 than rmC1. These findings suggest a mechanism for initial loss of myelin stability and the autoimmune pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular modelling of the interaction of myelin basic protein (MBP) with calmodulin (CaM)—diversity and conformational adaptability of MBP CaM-targets

The classic 18.5 kDa isoform of murine myelin basic protein (mMBP) has been shown to bind calmodulin (CaM) strongly and specifically in vitro. Here, we have used site-directed spin labelling (SDSL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to map more precisely the sites of interaction of recombinant mMBP (rmMBP) with CaM. On the basis of these and previous experimental data, and the predictions of CaM-binding motifs using the Calmodulin Target Database (), three main segments of MBP were suggested for the interaction. The first site is located at the C-terminus; the second one lies in the central portion of the protein and forms an amphipathic alpha-helix in reconstituted myelin-mimetic systems; the third is quite close to the N-terminus. The murine Golli-MBP isoform J37 has also been shown to bind CaM in vitro, and an interaction site was predicted in the N-terminal Golli-specific portion of the protein. From these four segments, we selected peptide fragments of 12-14 residues in length, chosen on the bases of their amphipathicity and CaM-target characteristics. We modelled each of these peptides as alpha-helices, and performed docking simulations to investigate their interactions with the CaM peptide-binding tunnel. Different yet almost equally favourable CaM-binding modes were found for each of them. The experimental SDSL/EPR and theoretical modelling results were in good agreement, and supported the conjecture that there are several plausible CaM-binding sites in MBP, that could be induced into an alpha-helical conformation by their interaction with CaM and account for strong immobilisation of spin-labeled residues in all three segments. Phosphorylation and deimination were also emulated and simulated for known sites of MBP post-translational modification. The results obtained confirmed the appropriate utilisation of simple residue substitutions to mimic the natural modifications, and demonstrated molecular mechanisms by which MBP-CaM interactions could be modulated in vivo.

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.

Myelin basic protein has multiple calmodulin-binding sites

Myelin basic protein (MBP) has been shown to bind calmodulin (CaM) in a specific Ca(2+)-dependent manner via a primary target sequence at its C-terminus [Protein Sci. 12 (2003) 1507]. Upon deimination of MBP, the nature of the interaction changed significantly, suggesting either a new binding site or different conformers with different affinities for CaM. In order to resolve this issue, we investigated here the CaM-binding properties of N- and C-terminal deletion mutants of MBP using Trp fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. We conclude that there is an additional CaM-binding site on MBP in a central segment (we posit murine residues 82-93) that forms an amphipathic alpha-helix.

Membrane-anchoring and charge effects in the interaction of myelin basic protein with lipid bilayers studied by site-directed spin labeling

Myelin basic protein (MBP) maintains the compaction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system by anchoring the cytoplasmic face of the two apposing bilayers and may also play a role in signal transduction. Site-directed spin labeling was done at eight matching sites in each of two recombinant murine MBPs, qC1 (charge +19) and qC8 charge (+13), which, respectively, emulate the native form of the protein (C1) and a post-translationally modified form (C8) that is increased in multiple sclerosis. When interacting with large unilamellar vesicles, most spin-labeled sites in qC8 were more mobile than those in qC1. Depth measurement via continuous wave power saturation indicated that the N-terminal and C-terminal sites in qC1 were located below the plane of the phospholipid headgroups. In qC8, the C-terminal domain dissociated from the membrane, suggesting a means by which the exposure of natural C8 to cytosolic enzymes and ligands might increase in vivo in multiple sclerosis. The importance of two Phe-Phe pairs in MBP to its interactions with lipids was investigated by separately mutating each pair to Ala-Ala. The mobility at F42A/F43A and especially F86A/F87A increased significantly. Depth measurements and helical wheel analysis indicated that the Phe-86/Phe-87 region could form a surface-seeking amphipathic alpha-helix.

Interaction of the 18.5-kD isoform of myelin basic protein with Ca2+ -calmodulin: effects of deimination assessed by intrinsic Trp fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and circular dichroism

The effects of deimination (conversion of arginyl to citrullinyl residues) of myelin basic protein (MBP) on its binding to calmodulin (CaM) have been examined. Four species of MBP were investigated: unmodified recombinant murine MBP (rmMBP-Cit(0)), an engineered protein with six quasi-citrullinyl (i.e., glutaminyl) residues per molecule (rmMBP-qCit(6)), human component C1 (hMBP-Cit(0)), and human component C8 (hMBP-Cit(6)), both obtained from a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS). Both rmMBP-Cit(0) and hMBP-Cit(0) bound CaM in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner and primarily in a 1:1 stoichiometry, which was verified by dynamic light scattering. Circular dichroic spectroscopy was unable to detect any changes in secondary structure in MBP upon CaM-binding. Inherent Trp fluorescence spectroscopy and a single-site binding model were used to determine the dissociation constants: K(d) = 144 +/- 76 nM for rmMBP-Cit(0), and K(d) = 42 +/- 15 nM for hMBP-Cit(0). For rmMBP-qCit(6) and hMBP-Cit(6), the changes in fluorescence were suggestive of a two-site interaction, although the dissociation constants could not be accurately determined. These results can be explained by a local conformational change induced in MBP by deimination, exposing a second binding site with a weaker association with CaM, or by the existence of several conformers of deiminated MBP. Titration with the collisional quencher acrylamide, and steady-state and lifetime measurements of the fluorescence at 340 nm, showed both dynamic and static components to the quenching, and differences between the unmodified and deiminated proteins that were also consistent with a local conformational change due to deimination.

Terminal deletion mutants of myelin basic protein: new insights into self-association and phospholipid interactions

The 18.5kDa isoform of myelin basic protein (MBP) has strong and probably specific interactions with phosphoinositides that are of interest regarding this protein's function, and in effecting its two-dimensional crystallization for structural determination. We have designed and constructed truncation mutants of recombinant 18.5kDa murine myelin basic protein (rmMBP) lacking either the N- or C-terminal third, i.e. rmMBPDeltaN and rmMBPDeltaC, respectively. Both variants rmMBPDeltaC and rmMBPDeltaN generally had a reduced ability to aggregate lipid vesicles, compared to the whole protein, especially at lower protein/lipid ratios. Lipid vesicle cosedimentation showed that both truncated variants exhibited altered binding with phosphatidylinositol (PI). Incubation of these proteins under monolayers comprising PI and a nickel-chelating lipid yielded crystalline arrays of rmMBPDeltaC (but not rmMBPDeltaN) in the absence of high salt or osmolytes, which are required for crystallization of whole protein. This result suggests that the C-terminal segment of MBP is a significant source of conformational heterogeneity, and its removal will facilitate future planar or three-dimensional crystallization attempts. Incubation of rmMBPDeltaN and rmMBPDeltaC under monolayers comprising phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate and a nickel-chelating lipid yielded tubular structures of opposite chirality, suggesting a synergistic effect of both termini of MBP in organizing myelin lipids.

Expression and properties of the recombinant murine Golli-myelin basic protein isoform J37

A recombinant form of the murine Golli-myelin basic protein (MBP) isoform J37 (rmJ37) has been expressed in Escherichia coli and isolated to 95% purity via metal chelation and ion exchange chromatography. The protein did not aggregate lipid vesicles containing acidic phospholipids, unlike the 18.5 kDa isoform of MBP. This result is consistent with J37 having a functional role prior to the assembly of compact myelin. Circular dichroic spectroscopy showed that rmJ37 had a large proportion of random coil in aqueous solution but gained alpha-helix and beta-sheet in the presence of monosialoganglioside G(M1) and PI(4)P. Thus, like "classic" MBP, J37 is intrinsically unstructured, and its conformation depends on its environment and bound ligands. Analyses of the amino acid sequence of rmJ37 predicted an N-terminal calmodulin (CaM)-binding site. It was determined via a gel-shift assay and fluorescence spectroscopy that rmJ37 and CaM interacted in a 1:1 ratio in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. However, the interaction was weak compared with 18.5 kDa MBP.

Effects of the osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide on conformation, self-association, and two-dimensional crystallization of myelin basic protein

The osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a naturally in vivo occurring "chemical chaperone" that has been shown to stabilise the folding of numerous proteins. Myelin basic protein (MBP) is a molecule that has not yet been suitably crystallized either in three dimensions for X-ray crystallography or in two dimensions for electron crystallography. Here, we describe lipid monolayer crystallization experiments of two species of recombinant murine MBP in the presence of TMAO. One protein was unmodified, whereas the other contained six Arg/Lys-->Gln substitutions to mimic the effects of deimination (i.e., the enzymatic modification of Arg to citrulline), which reduces the net positive charge. Planar arrays of both proteins were formed on binary lipid monolayers containing a nickel-chelating lipid and a phosphoinositide. In the presence of TMAO, the diffraction spots of these arrays became sharper and more distinct than in its absence, indicating some improvement of crystallinity. The osmolyte also induced the formation of epitaxial growth of protein arrays, especially with the mutant protein. However, none of these assemblies was sufficiently ordered to extract high-resolution structural information. Circular dichroic spectroscopy showed that MBP gained no increase in ordered secondary structure in the presence of TMAO in bulk solution, whereas it did in the presence of lipids. Dynamic light-scattering experiments confirmed that the MBP preparations were monomodal under the optimal crystallization conditions determined by electron microscopy trials. The salt and osmolyte concentrations used were shown to result in a largely unassociated population of MBP. The amino acid composition of MBP overwhelmingly favours a disordered state, and a neural-network-based scheme predicted large segments that would be unlikely to adopt a regular conformation. Thus, this protein has an inherently disordered nature, which mitigates strongly against its crystallization for high-resolution structure determination.