Interface characterization of the type II module pair from fibronectin

The Molecular Dance of Fibronectin: Conformational Flexibility Leads to Functional Versatility

Fibronectin, a large multimodular protein and one of the major fibrillar components of the extracellular matrix, has been the subject of study for many decades and plays critical roles in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Moreover, fibronectin has been implicated in the pathology of many diseases, including cancer, and abnormal depositions of fibronectin have been identified in a number of amyloid and nonamyloid lesions. The ability of fibronectin to carry all these diverse functionalities depends on interactions with a large number of molecules, including adhesive and signaling cell surface receptors, other components of the extracellular matrix, and growth factors and cytokines. The regulation and integration of such large number of interactions depends on the modular architecture of fibronectin, which allows a large number of conformations, exposing or destroying different binding sites. In this Review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the conformational flexibility of fibronectin, with an emphasis on how it regulates the ability of fibronectin to interact with various signaling molecules and cell-surface receptors and to form supramolecular assemblies and fibrillar structures.

Dynamic structure of plasma fibronectin

Fibronectin is a large vertebrate glycoprotein that is found in soluble and insoluble forms and involved in diverse processes. Protomeric fibronectin is a dimer of subunits, each of which comprises 29-31 modules - 12 type I, two type II and 15-17 type III. Plasma fibronectin is secreted by hepatocytes and circulates in a compact conformation before it binds to cell surfaces, converts to an extended conformation and is assembled into fibronectin fibrils. Here we review biophysical and structural studies that have shed light on how plasma fibronectin transitions from the compact to the extended conformation. The three types of modules each have a well-organized secondary and tertiary structure as defined by NMR and crystallography and have been likened to "beads on a string". There are flexible sequences in the N-terminal tail, between the fifth and sixth type I modules, between the first two and last two of the type III modules, and at the C-terminus. Several specific module-module interactions have been identified that likely maintain the compact quaternary structure of circulating fibronectin. The quaternary structure is perturbed in response to binding events, including binding of fibronectin to the surface of vertebrate cells for fibril assembly and to bacterial adhesins.

High-level expression of a soluble and functional fibronectin type II domain from MMP-2 in the Escherichia coli cytoplasm for solution NMR studies

We report a method for the expression in Escherichia coli of the isolated second type II fibronectin domain from MMP-2 (FNII-2). FNII-2 was expressed as a His(6)thioredoxin-tagged fusion protein in the thioredoxin reductase deficient E. coli strain BL21trxB(DE3), thus allowing disulfide-bond formation. When cultured at 37 degrees C, the expressed protein is located exclusively in the soluble fraction of the E. coli lysate. The fusion protein from the soluble fraction was purified and the His(6)thioredoxin-tag was cleaved by thrombin, resulting in a yield of approximately 40 mg/L. The recombinant FNII-2 was demonstrated to be functional by its ability to bind to gelatin-Sepharose, correct folding of the purified protein was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. This approach may generally be applicable to all FNII domains and is a significant simplification relative to existing techniques involving refolding from inclusion bodies or expression in the eukaryotic host, Pichia pastoris.

Spermadhesin AQN1 is a candidate receptor molecule involved in the formation of the oviductal sperm reservoir in the pig

Sperm are stored in the isthmic region of the oviduct under conditions that maintain viability and suppress early capacitation steps until ovulation occurs. The initial contact between sperm and oviductal epithelium is mediated by carbohydrate-protein interactions. In the pig, the carbohydrate recognition system has been shown to involve oligomannosyl structures. The spermadhesins AWN and AQN1 are the dominant porcine carbohydrate-binding sperm proteins. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that AQN1 contributes to sperm binding to the oviductal epithelium. AQN1 showed a broad carbohydrate-binding pattern as it recognizes both alpha- and beta-linked galactose as well as Manalpha1-3(Manalpha1-6)Man structures, whereas AWN bound only the galactose species. Binding of ejaculated sperm to oviductal epithelium was inhibited by addition of AQN1 but not by AWN. Mannose-binding sites were localized over the rostral region of the sperm head. Flow cytometry showed that, under capacitating conditions, the population of live sperm was shifted within 30 min toward an increase in the proportion of cells with low mannose- and high galactose-binding. The loss of mannose-binding sites was accompanied by the loss of AQN1 in sperm extracts and the significant reduction in the sperm-oviduct binding. The oviductal epithelium was shown by GNA-lectin histochemistry and by SDS-PAGE and lectin blotting of the apical membrane fraction to express mannose components that could be recognized by AQN1. These results demonstrate that the sperm lectin AQN1 fulfils the criteria for an oviduct receptor in the pig and may play a role in the formation of the oviductal sperm reservoir.

Structural and molecular characterization of equine sperm-binding fibronectin-II module proteins

Phospholipid-binding proteins in the male genital tract are characterized by differing numbers Fn-2 modules (B-domain) carrying N-terminal extensions (A-domain) of variable length. In the stallion, three different proteins were identified, SP-1, SP-2, and EQ-12. SP-1 and SP-2 of the AA'BB'- and ABB'-type, respectively, are major proteins of the seminal plasma. Here we report the cDNA sequences of SP-1, and of a new member of the SP-2 family (SPnew) and the partial characterization of their iso- and glycoforms. The phosphorylcholine (PC)-binding ability of the long Fn-2 protein, EQ-12, with four tandemly arranged Fn-2 modules was determined by PC-affinity chromatography. Expression patterns of EQ-12, and the SP-proteins were studied by means of RT-PCR, Northern blot analysis and immunological approaches indicating differential expression along the male reproductive tract. The vast majority of the short SP-1 and SP-2 proteins are produced by the ampulla whereas EQ-12 originates from the epididymis. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy of sperm isolated from different regions of the epididymis and Western blot analysis indicate that both, the long and the short Fn-2 proteins associate to the sperm surface during post-testicular maturation. Sperm binding of Fn-2 proteins at the post-acrosome and midpiece was at first detected in the corpus epididymis. Enhanced fluorescence intensity after ejaculation point to an increased number of molecules bound to the sperm surface. The function of these proteins is discussed in regard to their structure-function relationships.

Amide proton relaxation measurements employing a highly deuterated protein

Proton NMR longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates of unlabelled proteins are generally dominated by the many 1H-1H dipolar interactions so that spin diffusion, rather than molecular or internal motions, governs longitudinal relaxation. Here, relaxation measurements of backbone amide proton (1H(N)) magnetisations have been carried out employing the 99% 2H, 98% 15N labelled, small 2F2 protein domain in 10%/90% H(2)O/D(2)O solution. Under these conditions, the longitudinal relaxation rates exhibit time constants, T(1)*=1/R(1)* if described by a mono-exponential, within the range of 3.0 to 18.7s-a wide range which indicates that the phenomenon of spin diffusion has been greatly reduced. The majority of 1H(N) nuclei in this sample (pH 4.0 and 5 degrees C) exhibit chemical exchange with solvent that couples their longitudinal relaxation to that of the solvent. For the subset of 1H(N) nuclei not undergoing detectable solvent chemical exchange, the R(1)* rates correlate well with their individual 1H(N,O)/2H(N,O) structural environments. The correlation for corresponding transverse relaxation rates, R(2)* was found to be less good. Longitudinal relaxation measurements in 1%/99% H(2)O/D(2)O solution identify a further subset of 1H(N) nuclei which exhibit essentially indistinguishable R(1)* rates in both 1% and 10% H(2)O, implying that averaging of rates from spin diffusion processes and different 2F2 isotopomer populations are negligible for these 1H(N) sites. In addition to a high sensitivity to structural parameters, model calculations predict 1H(N) relaxation rates to exhibit pronounced sensitivity to internal dynamics.

The effects of dissolved oxygen upon amide proton relaxation and chemical shift in a perdeuterated protein

The effects of dissolved molecular oxygen upon amide proton ((1)H(N)) longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates and chemical shifts were studied for a small protein domain, the second type 2 module of fibronectin ((2)F2)-isotopically enriched to 99% (2)H, 98% (15)N. Longitudinal relaxation rate enhancements, R(O(2))((1)H(N)), of individual backbone (1)H(N) nuclei varied up to 14 fold between a degassed and oxygenated (1 bar) solution, indicating that the oxygen distribution within the protein is inhomogeneous. On average, smaller relaxation rate enhancements were observed for (1)H(N) nuclei associated with the core of the protein compared to (1)H(N) nuclei closer to the surface, suggesting restricted oxygen accessibility to some regions. In agreement with an O(2)-(1)H(N) hyperfine interaction in the extreme narrowing limit, the (1)H(N) transverse relaxation rates showed no significant change, up to an oxygen pressure of 9.5 bar (the maximum pressure used in this study). For most (1)H(N) resonances, small deltadelta(O(2))((1)H(N)) hyperfine chemical shifts could be detected between oxygen pressures of 1 bar and 9.5 bar.

Sperm coating mechanism from the 1.8 A crystal structure of PDC-109-phosphorylcholine complex

Bovine seminal plasma PDC-109 binds to sperm surface choline lipids and promotes sperm capacitation by stimulating the efflux of cholesterol and phospholipids. The structure of PDC-109 with bound phosphorylcholine was solved using MAD data of a single platinum site. Its two globular (40 x 50 x 20 A(3)) Fn2 domains are linked and clustered by a short polypeptide. The choline binding sites lie at the same face of the molecule. Phosphorylcholine binds to the Fn2 domains through a cation-pi interaction between the quaternary ammonium group and a core tryptophan, plus hydrogen bonding between hydroxyls of exposed tyrosines and the phosphate group. The structure of the PDC-109-oPC complex provides a structural ground for the sperm membrane-coating mechanism underlying PDC-109-induced capacitation.

Effects of the N2144S mutation on backbone dynamics of a TB-cbEGF domain pair from human fibrillin-1

The calcium-binding epidermal growth factor-like (cbEGF) module and the transforming growth factor beta-binding protein-like (TB) module are the two major structural motifs found in fibrillin-1, the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein defective in the Marfan syndrome (MFS). An MFS-causing mutation, N2144S, which removes a calcium ligand in cbEGF32, does not detectably affect fibrillin-1 biosynthesis, rate of secretion, processing, or deposition of reducible fibrillin-1 into the ECM. Since the residue at position 2144 is normally engaged in calcium ligation, it is unable to mediate intermolecular interactions. We have shown previously that this mutation does not affect the folding properties of the TB or cbEGF domains in vitro, but does decrease calcium-binding in cbEGF and TB-cbEGF domain constructs. Here, we use NMR spectroscopy to probe the effects of the N2144S mutation on backbone dynamic properties of TB6-cbEGF32. Analysis of the backbone (15)N relaxation data of wild-type TB6-cbEGF32 has revealed a flexible inter-domain linkage. Parallel dynamics analysis of the N2144S mutant has shown increased flexibility in the region joining the two domains as well as in the calcium-binding site at the N terminus of cbEGF32. This research demonstrates that a small change in peptide backbone flexibility, which does not enhance proteolytic susceptibility of the domain pair, is associated with an MFS phenotype. Flexibility of the TB-cbEGF linkage is likely to contribute to the biomechanical properties of fibrillin-rich connective tissue microfibrils, and may play a role in the microfibril assembly process.

Titin; a multidomain protein that behaves as the sum of its parts

Titin is a giant, multidomain muscle protein forming a major component of the sarcomere in vertebrate striated muscle. As for many other multidomain proteins, the properties of titin are often studied by characterisation of the constituent domains in isolation. This raises the question of to what extent the properties of the isolated domains are representative of the domains in the wild-type protein. We address this question for the I-band region of titin, which is of particular biological interest due to its role in muscle elasticity, by determining the properties of five immunoglobulin domains from the I-band in three different contexts; firstly as isolated domains with the boundaries defined conservatively, secondly, with a two amino acid extension at both the N and C terminus and thirdly as part of multidomain constructs. We show that adjacent domains in the titin I-band have very different kinetic properties which, in general, undergo only a small change in the presence of neighbouring domains and conclude that, provided that care is taken in the choice of domain boundaries, the properties of the titin I-band are essentially "the sum of its parts". From this and other work we propose that variation in kinetic properties between adjacent domains may be a general property of the I-band thereby preventing misfolding events on muscle relaxation.

Gelatin-binding region of human matrix metalloproteinase-2: solution structure, dynamics, and function of the COL-23 two-domain construct

Human matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) contains an array of three fibronectin type II (FII) modules postulated to interact with gelatin (denatured collagen). Here, we verify that the NMR solution structure of the third FII repeat (COL-3) is similar to that of the second FII repeat (COL-2); characterize its ligand-binding properties; and derive dynamics properties and relative orientation in solution for the two domains of the COL-23 fragment, a construct comprising COL-2 and COL-3 in tandem, with each domain possessing a putative collagen-binding site. Interaction of the synthetic gelatin-like octadecapeptide (Pro-Pro-Gly)(6) (PPG6) with COL-3 is weaker than with COL-2. We found that a synthetic peptide comprising segment 33-42 (peptide 33-42) from the MMP-2 prodomain interacts with COL-3 and, albeit with lower affinity, with COL-2 in a way that mimics PPG6 binding. COL-3 strongly prefers peptide 33-42 over PPG6, which suggests that intramolecular interactions with the prodomain could modulate binding of pro-MMP-2 to its gelatin substrate. In COL-23, the two modules retain their structural individuality and tumble independently. Overall, the NMR data indicate that the relative orientation of the modules in COL-23 is not fixed in solution, that the modules do not interact with one another, and that COL-23 is rather flexible. The binding sites face opposite each other, and their responses to, and normalized affinities for, the longer ligand PPG12 are virtually identical to those of the individual domains for PPG6, thus precluding co- operativity, although they may interact simultaneously with multiple sites of the extracellular matrix.

The hairpin structure of the (6)F1(1)F2(2)F2 fragment from human fibronectin enhances gelatin binding

The solution structure of the (6)F1(1)F2(2)F2 fragment from the gelatin-binding region of fibronectin has been determined (Protein Data Bank entry codes 1e88 and 1e8b). The structure reveals an extensive hydrophobic interface between the non-contiguous (6)F1 and (2)F2 modules. The buried surface area between (6)F1 and (2)F2 ( approximately 870 A(2)) is the largest intermodule interface seen in fibronectin to date. The dissection of (6)F1(1)F2(2)F2 into the (6)F1(1)F2 pair and (2)F2 results in near-complete loss of gelatin-binding activity. The hairpin topology of (6)F1(1)F2(2)F2 may facilitate intramolecular contact between the matrix assembly regions flanking the gelatin-binding domain. This is the first high-resolution study to reveal a compact, globular arrangement of modules in fibronectin. This arrangement is not consistent with the view that fibronectin is simply a linear 'string of beads'.

Solution structure and dynamics of the central CCP module pair of a poxvirus complement control protein

The complement control protein (CCP) module (also known as SCR, CCP or sushi domain) is prevalent amongst proteins that regulate complement activation. Functional and mutagenesis studies have shown that in most cases two or more neighbouring CCP modules form specific binding sites for other molecules. Hence the orientation in space of a CCP module with respect to its neighbours and the flexibility of the intermodular junction are likely to be critical for function. Vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP) is a complement regulatory protein composed of four tandemly arranged CCP modules. The solution structure of the carboxy-terminal half of this protein (CCP modules 3 and 4) has been solved previously. The structure of the central portion (modules 2 and 3, VCP approximately 2,3) has now also been solved using NMR spectroscopy at 37 degrees C. In addition, the backbone dynamics of VCP approximately 2,3 have been characterised by analysis of its (15)N relaxation parameters. Module 2 has a typical CCP module structure while module 3 in the context of VCP approximately 2,3 has some modest but significant differences in structure and dynamics to module 3 within the 3,4 pair. Modules 2 and 3 do not share an extensive interface, unlike modules 3 and 4. Only two possible NOEs were identified between the bodies of the modules, but a total of 40 NOEs between the short intermodular linker of VCP approximately 2,3 and the bodies of the two modules determines a preferred, elongated, orientation of the two modules in the calculated structures. The anisotropy of rotational diffusion has been characterised from (15)N relaxation data, and this indicates that the time-averaged structure is more compact than suggested by (1)H-(1)H NOEs. The data are consistent with the presence of many intermodular orientations, some of which are kinked, undergoing interconversion on a 10(-8)-10(-6) second time-scale. A reconstructed representation of modules 2-4 allows visualisation of the spatial arrangement of the 11 substitutions that occur in the more potent complement inhibitor from Variola (small pox) virus.