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Maraldo A, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Marquis C. Tyrosine - a structural glue for hierarchical protein assembly. Trends Biochem Sci 2024:S0968-0004(24)00080-X. [PMID: 38653686 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Protein self-assembly, guided by the interplay of sequence- and environment-dependent liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), constitutes a fundamental process in the assembly of numerous intrinsically disordered proteins. Heuristic examination of these proteins has underscored the role of tyrosine residues, evident in their conservation and pivotal involvement in initiating LLPS and subsequent liquid-solid phase transitions (LSPT). The development of tyrosine-templated constructs, designed to mimic their natural counterparts, emerges as a promising strategy for creating adaptive, self-assembling systems with diverse applications. This review explores the central role of tyrosine in orchestrating protein self-assembly, delving into key interactions and examining its potential in innovative applications, including responsive biomaterials and bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Maraldo
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Christopher Marquis
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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Bora JR, Mahalakshmi R. Photoradical-Mediated Catalyst-Independent Protein Cross-Link with Unusual Fluorescence Properties. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300380. [PMID: 37232210 PMCID: PMC7615464 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Photo-actively modified natural amino acids have served as lucrative probes for precise mapping of the dynamics, interaction networks, and turnover of cytosolic proteins both in vivo and ex vivo. In our attempts to extend the utility of photoreactive reporters to map the molecular characteristics of vital membrane proteins, we carried out site-selective incorporation of 7-fluoro-indole in the human mitochondrial outer membrane protein VDAC2 (voltage-dependent anion channel isoform 2), with the aim of generating Trp-Phe/Tyr cross-links. Prolonged irradiation at 282 nm provided us with a surprisingly unusual fluorophore that displayed sizably red-shifted excitation (λex-max =280 nm→360 nm) and emission (λem-max =330 nm→430 nm) spectra that was reversible with organic solvents. By measuring the kinetics of the photo-activated cross-linking with a library of hVDAC2 variants, we demonstrate that formation of this unusual fluorophore is kinetically retarded, independent of tryptophan, and is site-specific. Using other membrane (Tom40 and Sam50) and cytosolic (MscR and DNA Pol I) proteins, we additionally show that formation of this fluorophore is protein-independent. Our findings reveal the photoradical-mediated accumulation of reversible tyrosine cross-links, with unusual fluorescent properties. Our findings have immediate applications in protein biochemistry and UV-mediated protein aggregation and cellular damage, opening avenues for formulating therapeutics that prolong cell viability in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinam Ravindra Bora
- Molecular Biophysics Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh (India)
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahalakshmi
- Molecular Biophysics Laboratory Department of Biological Sciences Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh (India)
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Murvai N, Gellen G, Micsonai A, Schlosser G, Kardos J. Cross-Linked α-Synuclein as Inhibitor of Amyloid Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13403. [PMID: 37686208 PMCID: PMC10487470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation and amyloid formation of α-synuclein is associated with Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. In its native, monomeric form α-synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein represented by highly dynamic conformational ensembles. Inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation using small molecules, peptides, or proteins has been at the center of interest in recent years. Our aim was to explore the effects of cross-linking on the structure and aggregation/amyloid formation properties of α-synuclein. Comparative analysis of available high-resolution amyloid structures and representative structural models and MD trajectory of monomeric α-synuclein revealed that potential cross-links in the monomeric protein are mostly incompatible with the amyloid forms and thus might inhibit fibrillation. Monomeric α-synuclein has been intramolecularly chemically cross-linked under various conditions using different cross-linkers. We determined the location of cross-links and their frequency using mass spectrometry and found that most of them cannot be realized in the amyloid structures. The inhibitory potential of cross-linked proteins has been experimentally investigated using various methods, including thioflavin-T fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. We found that conformational constraints applied by cross-linking fully blocked α-synuclein amyloid formation. Moreover, DTSSP-cross-linked molecules exhibited an inhibitory effect on the aggregation of unmodified α-synuclein as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Murvai
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE—Functional Nucleic Acid Motifs Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Gellen
- MTA-ELTE Lendület Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Research Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - András Micsonai
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE—Functional Nucleic Acid Motifs Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE NAP Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gitta Schlosser
- MTA-ELTE Lendület Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Research Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Kardos
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE NAP Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Bora JR, Mahalakshmi R. Empowering canonical biochemicals with cross-linked novelty: Recursions in applications of protein cross-links. Proteins 2023. [PMID: 37589191 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Diversity in the biochemical workhorses of the cell-that is, proteins-is achieved by the innumerable permutations offered primarily by the 20 canonical L-amino acids prevalent in all biological systems. Yet, proteins are known to additionally undergo unusual modifications for specialized functions. Of the various post-translational modifications known to occur in proteins, the recently identified non-disulfide cross-links are unique, residue-specific covalent modifications that confer additional structural stability and unique functional characteristics to these biomolecules. We review an exclusive class of amino acid cross-links encompassing aromatic and sulfur-containing side chains, which not only confer superior biochemical characteristics to the protein but also possess additional spectroscopic features that can be exploited as novel chromophores. Studies of their in vivo reaction mechanism have facilitated their specialized in vitro applications in hydrogels and protein anchoring in monolayer chips. Furthering the discovery of unique canonical cross-links through new chemical, structural, and bioinformatics tools will catalyze the development of protein-specific hyperstable nanostructures, superfoods, and biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinam Ravindra Bora
- Department of Biological Sciences, Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, India
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahalakshmi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, India
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Sun X, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. Role of conformational dynamics in pathogenic protein aggregation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 73:102280. [PMID: 36878172 PMCID: PMC10033434 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of pathogenic protein oligomers and aggregates is associated with several devastating amyloid diseases. As protein aggregation is a multi-step nucleation-dependent process beginning with unfolding or misfolding of the native state, it is important to understand how innate protein dynamics influence aggregation propensity. Kinetic intermediates composed of heterogeneous ensembles of oligomers are frequently formed on the aggregation pathway. Characterization of the structure and dynamics of these intermediates is critical to the understanding of amyloid diseases since oligomers appear to be the main cytotoxic agents. In this review, we highlight recent biophysical studies of the roles of protein dynamics in driving pathogenic protein aggregation, yielding new mechanistic insights that can be leveraged for design of aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Sun
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - H Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Peter E Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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