Hyperbolic Pressure-Temperature Phase Diagram of the Zinc-Finger Protein apoKti11 Detected by NMR Spectroscopy

Metal-induced structural variability of mononuclear metal-binding sites from a database perspective

Metalloproteins are ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life. Their role and function are tightly related to the local structure of the metal-binding site. In this regard, the MetalPDB database is an invaluable tool since it stores the 3D structure of metal-binding sites and of their corresponding apo forms. In this work, we exploited MetalPDB to compute extensive statistics over >3000 clusters of mononuclear sites about the rearrangements occurring upon change in metalation state. For each cluster, we matched the holo and apo sites so that it was possible to average the distances between all possible pairs of Cα and donor atoms and thus quantitatively assess structural variations by computing the Δ values (mean apo distance - mean holo distance). For most of the structures the backbone is rigid with little to no rearrangement, while donor atoms experience significant changes of their relative position when the metal is removed. Sodium and potassium sites are an exception to this general observation. This is most likely caused by their preference for coordination by the main-chain oxygen atoms, making the rearrangement of donor atoms superimposable to that of the backbone. Magnesium and calcium show a different behavior, despite their chemical similarity: calcium sites undergo a larger reorganization upon metalation although both metals have similar percentage of backbone oxygen as donor atoms. We ascribe this observation to the structural and energetic factors regulating the selectivity for calcium over magnesium.

Monitoring protein unfolding transitions by NMR-spectroscopy

NMR-spectroscopy has certain unique advantages for recording unfolding transitions of proteins compared e.g. to optical methods. It enables per-residue monitoring and separate detection of the folded and unfolded state as well as possible equilibrium intermediates. This allows a detailed view on the state and cooperativity of folding of the protein of interest and the correct interpretation of subsequent experiments. Here we summarize in detail practical and theoretical aspects of such experiments. Certain pitfalls can be avoided, and meaningful simplification can be made during the analysis. Especially a good understanding of the NMR exchange regime and relaxation properties of the system of interest is beneficial. We show by a global analysis of signals of the folded and unfolded state of GB1 how accurate values of unfolding can be extracted and what limits different NMR detection and unfolding methods. E.g. commonly used exchangeable amides can lead to a systematic under determination of the thermodynamic protein stability. We give several perspectives of how to deal with more complex proteins and how the knowledge about protein stability at residue resolution helps to understand protein properties under crowding conditions, during phase separation and under high pressure.

From Protein Design to the Energy Landscape of a Cold Unfolding Protein

Understanding protein folding is crucial for protein sciences. The conformational spaces and energy landscapes of cold (unfolded) protein states, as well as the associated transitions, are hardly explored. Furthermore, it is not known how structure relates to the cooperativity of cold transitions, if cold and heat unfolded states are thermodynamically similar, and if cold states play important roles for protein function. We created the cold unfolding 4-helix bundle DCUB1 with a de novo designed bipartite hydrophilic/hydrophobic core featuring a hydrogen bond network which extends across the bundle in order to study the relative importance of hydrophobic versus hydrophilic protein-water interactions for cold unfolding. Structural and thermodynamic characterization resulted in the discovery of a complex energy landscape for cold transitions, while the heat unfolded state is a random coil. Below ∼0 °C, the core of DCUB1 disintegrates in a largely cooperative manner, while a near-native helical content is retained. The resulting cold core-unfolded state is compact and features extensive internal dynamics. Below -5 °C, two additional cold transitions are seen, that is, (i) the formation of a water-mediated, compact, and highly dynamic dimer, and (ii) the onset of cold helix unfolding decoupled from cold core unfolding. Our results suggest that cold unfolding is initiated by the intrusion of water into the hydrophilic core network and that cooperativity can be tuned by varying the number of core hydrogen bond networks. Protein design has proven to be invaluable to explore the energy landscapes of cold states and to robustly test related theories.

Transition-State Compressibility and Activation Volume of Transient Protein Conformational Fluctuations

Proteins are dynamic entities that intermittently depart from their ground-state structures and undergo conformational transitions as a critical part of their functions. Central to understanding such transitions are the structural rearrangements along the connecting pathway, where the transition state plays a special role. Using NMR relaxation at variable temperature and pressure to measure aromatic ring flips inside a protein core, we obtain information on the structure and thermodynamics of the transition state. We show that the isothermal compressibility coefficient of the transition state is similar to that of short-chain hydrocarbon liquids, implying extensive local unfolding of the protein. Our results further indicate that the required local volume expansions of the protein can occur not only with a net positive activation volume of the protein, as expected from previous studies, but also with zero activation volume by compaction of remote void volume, when averaged over the ensemble of states.

Folding and Stability of Ankyrin Repeats Control Biological Protein Function

Ankyrin repeat proteins are found in all three kingdoms of life. Fundamentally, these proteins are involved in protein-protein interaction in order to activate or suppress biological processes. The basic architecture of these proteins comprises repeating modules forming elongated structures. Due to the lack of long-range interactions, a graded stability among the repeats is the generic properties of this protein family determining both protein folding and biological function. Protein folding intermediates were frequently found to be key for the biological functions of repeat proteins. In this review, we discuss most recent findings addressing this close relation for ankyrin repeat proteins including DARPins, Notch receptor ankyrin repeat domain, IκBα inhibitor of NFκB, and CDK inhibitor p19^INK4d. The role of local folding and unfolding and gradual stability of individual repeats will be discussed during protein folding, protein-protein interactions, and post-translational modifications. The conformational changes of these repeats function as molecular switches for biological regulation, a versatile property for modern drug discovery.

Real-time nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the study of biomolecular kinetics and dynamics

The review describes the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study kinetics of folding, refolding and aggregation of proteins, RNA and DNA. Time-resolved NMR experiments can be conducted in a reversible or an irreversible manner. In particular, irreversible folding experiments pose large requirements for (i) signal-to-noise due to the time limitations and (ii) synchronising of the refolding steps. Thus, this contribution discusses the application of methods for signal-to-noise increases, including dynamic nuclear polarisation, hyperpolarisation and photo-CIDNP for the study of time-resolved NMR studies. Further, methods are reviewed ranging from pressure and temperature jump, light induction to rapid mixing to induce rapidly non-equilibrium conditions required to initiate folding.