Setting the chaperonin timer: the effects of K+ and substrate protein on ATP hydrolysis

Regulation of potassium uptake in Caulobacter crescentus

Potassium (K+) is an essential physiological element determining membrane potential, intracellular pH, osmotic/turgor pressure, and protein synthesis in cells. Here, we describe the regulation of potassium uptake systems in the oligotrophic α-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus known as a model for asymmetric cell division. We show that C. crescentus can grow in concentrations from the micromolar to the millimolar range by mainly using two K+ transporters to maintain potassium homeostasis, the low-affinity Kup and the high-affinity Kdp uptake systems. When K+ is not limiting, we found that the kup gene is essential while kdp inactivation does not impact the growth. In contrast, kdp becomes critical but not essential and kup dispensable for growth in K+-limited environments. However, in the absence of kdp, mutations in kup were selected to improve growth in K+-depleted conditions, likely by increasing the affinity of Kup for K+. In addition, mutations in the KdpDE two-component system, which regulates kdpABCDE expression, suggest that the inner membrane sensor regulatory component KdpD mainly works as a phosphatase to limit the growth when cells reach late exponential phase. Our data therefore suggest that KdpE is phosphorylated by another non-cognate histidine kinase. On top of this, we determined the KdpE-dependent and independent K+ transcriptome. Together, our work illustrates how an oligotrophic bacterium responds to fluctuation in K+ availability.IMPORTANCEPotassium (K+) is a key metal ion involved in many essential cellular processes. Here, we show that the oligotroph Caulobacter crescentus can support growth at micromolar concentrations of K+ by mainly using two K+ uptake systems, the low-affinity Kup and the high-affinity Kdp. Using genome-wide approaches, we also determined the entire set of genes required for C. crescentus to survive at low K+ concentration as well as the full K+-dependent regulon. Finally, we found that the transcriptional regulation mediated by the KdpDE two-component system is unconventional since unlike Escherichia coli, the inner membrane sensor regulatory component KdpD seems to work rather as a phosphatase on the phosphorylated response regulator KdpE~P.

Reduced ADP off-rate by the yeast CCT2 double mutation T394P/R510H which causes Leber congenital amaurosis in humans

The CCT/TRiC chaperonin is found in the cytosol of all eukaryotic cells and assists protein folding in an ATP-dependent manner. The heterozygous double mutation T400P and R516H in subunit CCT2 is known to cause Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a hereditary congenital retinopathy. This double mutation also renders the function of subunit CCT2, when it is outside of the CCT/TRiC complex, to be defective in promoting autophagy. Here, we show using steady-state and transient kinetic analysis that the corresponding double mutation in subunit CCT2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduces the off-rate of ADP during ATP hydrolysis by CCT/TRiC. We also report that the ATPase activity of CCT/TRiC is stimulated by a non-folded substrate. Our results suggest that the closed state of CCT/TRiC is stabilized by the double mutation owing to the slower off-rate of ADP, thereby impeding the exit of CCT2 from the complex that is required for its function in autophagy.

Dissecting the Thermodynamics of ATP Binding to GroEL One Nucleotide at a Time

Variable-temperature electrospray ionization (vT-ESI) native mass spectrometry (nMS) is used to determine the thermodynamics for stepwise binding of up to 14 ATP molecules to the 801 kDa GroEL tetradecamer chaperonin complex. Detailed analysis reveals strong enthalpy-entropy compensation (EEC) for the ATP binding events leading to formation of GroEL-ATP₇ and GroEL-ATP₁₄ complexes. The observed variations in EEC and stepwise free energy changes of specific ATP binding are consistent with the well-established nested cooperativity model describing GroEL-ATP interactions, viz., intraring positive cooperativity and inter-ring negative cooperativity (Dyachenko A.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.2013, 110, 7235-7239). Entropy-driven ATP binding is to be expected for ligand-induced conformational changes of the GroEL tetradecamer, though the magnitude of the entropy change suggests that reorganization of GroEL-hydrating water molecules and/or expulsion of water from the GroEL cavity may also play key roles. The capability for determining complete thermodynamic signatures (ΔG, ΔH, and -TΔS) for individual ligand binding reactions for the large, nearly megadalton GroEL complex expands our fundamental view of chaperonin functional chemistry. Moreover, this work and related studies of protein-ligand interactions illustrate important new capabilities of vT-ESI-nMS for thermodynamic studies of protein interactions with ligands and other molecules such as proteins and drugs.

Heat shock protein 60 in parasitic helminths: A role in immune responses and therapeutic applications

Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is an unique member of the heat shock protein family, being involved in parasite infections. To cope with harsh environments where parasites live, HSP60s are indispensable and involved in a variety of biological processes. HSP60s have relative low similarity among parasites, but their ATPase /Mg²⁺ active sites are highly conserved. The interactions of HSP60s with signaling pathway regulators in immune cells suggest a crucial role in immune responses, rendering them a potential therapeutic target. This paper reviews the current understandings of HSP60s in parasitic helminths in aspects of molecular characteristics, immunoregulatory responses and HSP60-based therapeutics.

Purification and Handling of the Chaperonin GroEL

GroEL is an important model molecular chaperone. Despite being extensively studied, several critical aspects of its functionality are still in dispute due partly to difficulties in obtaining protein samples of consistent purity. Here I describe an easy-to-carry-out purification protocol that can reliably produce highly purified and fully functional GroEL protein in large quantities. The method takes advantage of the remarkable stability of the GroEL tetradecamer in 45% acetone which efficiently extracts and removes tightly bound substrate proteins that cannot be separated from GroEL by the usual chromatographic methods. The efficiency of the purification method can be assessed by the amount of residual tryptophan fluorescence associated with the purified GroEL sample. The functionality of the thus obtained GroEL sample is demonstrated by measuring its ATPase turnover both in the presence and absence of the GroEL model substrate protein α-lactalbumin.

Chaperonin-assisted protein folding: a chronologue

This chronologue seeks to document the discovery and development of an understanding of oligomeric ring protein assemblies known as chaperonins that assist protein folding in the cell. It provides detail regarding genetic, physiologic, biochemical, and biophysical studies of these ATP-utilizing machines from both in vivo and in vitro observations. The chronologue is organized into various topics of physiology and mechanism, for each of which a chronologic order is generally followed. The text is liberally illustrated to provide firsthand inspection of the key pieces of experimental data that propelled this field. Because of the length and depth of this piece, the use of the outline as a guide for selected reading is encouraged, but it should also be of help in pursuing the text in direct order.

Stability of the chaperonin system GroEL-GroES under extreme environmental conditions

The chaperonin system GroEL-GroES is present in all kingdoms of life and rescues proteins from improper folding and aggregation upon internal and external stress conditions, including high temperatures and pressures. Here, we set out to explore the thermo- and piezostability of GroEL, GroES and the GroEL-GroES complex in the presence of cosolvents, nucleotides and salts employing quantitative FTIR spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. Owing to its high biological relevance and lack of data, our focus was especially on the effect of pressure on the chaperonin system. The experimental results reveal that the GroEL-GroES complex is remarkably temperature stable with an unfolding temperature beyond 70 °C, which can still be slightly increased by compatible cosolutes like TMAO. Conversely, the pressure stability of GroEL and hence the GroEL-GroES complex is rather limited and much less than that of monomeric proteins. Whereas GroES is pressure stable up to ∼5 kbar, GroEl and the GroEl-GroES complex undergo minor structural changes already beyond 1 kbar, which can be attributed to a dissociation-induced conformational drift. Quite unexpectedly, no significant unfolding of GroEL is observed even up to 10 kbar, however, i.e., the subunits themselves are very pressure stable. As for the physiological relevance, the structural integrity of the chaperonin system is retained in a relatively narrow pressure range, from about 1 to 1000 bar, which is just the pressure range encountered by life on Earth.

GroEL Allostery Illuminated by a Relationship between the Hill Coefficient and the MWC Model

A fundamental problem that has hindered the use of the classic Monod-Wyman-Changuex (MWC) allosteric model since its introduction is that it has been difficult to determine the values of its parameters in a reliable manner because they are correlated with each other and sensitive to the data-fitting method. Consequently, experimental data are often fitted to the Hill equation, which provides a measure of cooperativity but no insights into its origin. In this work, we derived a general relationship between the value of the Hill coefficient and the parameters of the MWC model. It is shown that this relationship can be used to select the best estimate of the true combination of the MWC parameter values from all the possible ones found to fit the data. Here, this approach was applied to fits to the MWC model of curves of the fraction of GroEL molecules in the high-affinity (R) state for ATP as a function of ATP concentration. Such curves were collected at different temperatures, thereby providing insight into the hydrophobic effect associated with the ATP-promoted allosteric switch of GroEL. More generally, the relationship derived here should facilitate future thermodynamic analysis of other MWC-type allosteric systems.

Substrate protein dependence of GroEL-GroES interaction cycle revealed by high-speed atomic force microscopy imaging

A double-ring-shaped tetradecameric GroEL complex assists proper protein folding in cooperation with the cochaperonin GroES. The dynamic GroEL-GroES interaction reflects the allosteric intra- and inter-ring communications and the chaperonin reaction. Therefore, revealing this dynamic interaction is essential to understanding the allosteric communications and the operation mechanism of GroEL. Nevertheless, how this interaction proceeds in the chaperonin cycle has long been controversial. Here, we directly image the dynamic GroEL-GroES interaction under conditions with and without foldable substrate protein using high-speed atomic force microscopy. Then, the imaging results obtained under these conditions and our previous results in the presence of unfoldable substrate are compared. The molecular movies reveal that the entire reaction pathway is highly complicated but basically identical irrespective of the substrate condition. A prominent (but moderate) difference is in the population distribution of intermediate species: symmetric GroEL : GroES₂ and asymmetric GroEL : GroES₁ complexes, and GroES-unbound GroEL. This difference is mainly attributed to the longer lifetime of GroEL : GroES₁ complexes in the presence of foldable substrate. Moreover, the inter-ring communication, which is the basis for the alternating action of the two rings, occurs at two distinct (GroES association and dissociation) steps in the main reaction pathway, irrespective of the substrate condition.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Allostery and molecular machines'.

Evolution of cation binding in the active sites of P-loop nucleoside triphosphatases in relation to the basic catalytic mechanism

The ubiquitous P-loop fold nucleoside triphosphatases (NTPases) are typically activated by an arginine or lysine 'finger'. Some of the apparently ancestral NTPases are, instead, activated by potassium ions. To clarify the activation mechanism, we combined comparative structure analysis with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Mg-ATP and Mg-GTP complexes in water and in the presence of potassium, sodium, or ammonium ions. In all analyzed structures of diverse P-loop NTPases, the conserved P-loop motif keeps the triphosphate chain of bound NTPs (or their analogs) in an extended, catalytically prone conformation, similar to that imposed on NTPs in water by potassium or ammonium ions. MD simulations of potassium-dependent GTPase MnmE showed that linking of alpha- and gamma phosphates by the activating potassium ion led to the rotation of the gamma-phosphate group yielding an almost eclipsed, catalytically productive conformation of the triphosphate chain, which could represent the basic mechanism of hydrolysis by P-loop NTPases.

Probing the mechanism of inhibition of amyloid-β(1-42)-induced neurotoxicity by the chaperonin GroEL

The human chaperonin Hsp60 is thought to play a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease by mitigating against intracellular β-amyloid stress. Here, we show that the bacterial homolog GroEL (51% sequence identity) reduces the neurotoxic effects of amyloid-β(1-42) (Aβ42) on human neural stem cell-derived neuronal cultures. To understand the mechanism of GroEL-mediated abrogation of neurotoxicity, we studied the interaction of Aβ42 with GroEL using a variety of biophysical techniques. Aβ42 binds to GroEL as a monomer with a lifetime of ∼1 ms, as determined from global analysis of multiple relaxation-based NMR experiments. Dynamic light scattering demonstrates that GroEL dissolves small amounts of high-molecular-weight polydisperse aggregates present in fresh soluble Aβ42 preparations. The residue-specific transverse relaxation rate profile for GroEL-bound Aβ42 reveals the presence of three anchor-binding regions (residues 16-21, 31-34, and 40-41) located within the hydrophobic GroEL-consensus binding sequences. Single-molecule FRET analysis of Aβ42 binding to GroEL results in no significant change in the FRET efficiency of a doubly labeled Aβ42 construct, indicating that Aβ42 samples a random coil ensemble when bound to GroEL. Finally, GroEL substantially slows down the disappearance of NMR visible Aβ42 species and the appearance of Aβ42 protofibrils and fibrils as monitored by electron and atomic force microscopies. The latter observations correlate with the effect of GroEL on the time course of Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity. These data provide a physical basis for understanding how Hsp60 may serve to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

ATPase activity of GroEL is dependent on GroES and it is response for environmental stress in Riemerella anatipestifer

Riemerella anatipestifer (Ra) is a serious gram-negative pathogen of birds and can cause considerable economic losses. The survival mechanisms of R. anatipestifer in the host and environment remain largely unknown. Previous results have demonstrated that GroEL is a molecular chaperone and an important component of the response to various stresses in most bacteria. This study focused on whether GroEL is implicated in this process in R. anatipestifer. The 1629 bp groEL is highly conserved among other gram-negative bacteria (levels of sequence similarity > 60%). A structural analysis and ATPase activity assay revealed that RaGroEL had weak ATPase activity and that the enzyme activity was temperature and ion dependent. GroES partially enhanced the GroEL ATPase activity in the same temperature range. In addition, we studied the mRNA expression of groEL under abiotic stresses caused by heat shock, pH, salt and hydrogen peroxide. These stresses increased the transcription of groEL to varying degrees. In R. anatipestifer, the ATPase activity of GroEL is dependent on GroES and temperature. The expression of groEL was strongly induced by heat, pH, hydrogen peroxide and salt stress. This study is the first to show that GroEL in R. anatipestifer might play a major role in response to environmental stress.

Combined thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of GroEL interacting with CXCR4 transmembrane peptides

GroEL along with ATP and its co-chaperonin GroES has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the folding of newly translated G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This work extends the previous studies to explore the guest capture and release processes in GroEL-assisted folding of GPCRs, by the reduced approach of employing CXCR4 transmembrane peptides as model substrates. Each of the CXCR4-derived peptides exhibited high affinity for GroEL with a binding stoichiometry near seven. It is found that the peptides interact with the paired α helices in the apical domain of the chaperonin which are similar with the binding sites of SBP (strongly binding peptide: SWMTTPWGFLHP). Complementary binding study with a single-ring version of GroEL indicates that each of the two chaperonin rings is competent for accommodating all the seven CXCR4 peptides bound to GroEL under saturation condition. Meanwhile, the binding kinetics of CXCR4 peptides with GroEL was also examined; ATP alone, or in combination of GroES evidently promoted the release of the peptide substrates from the chaperonin. The results obtained would be beneficial to understand the thermodynamic and kinetic nature of GroEL-GPCRs interaction which is the central molecular event in the assisted folding process.

Folding of maltose binding protein outside of and in GroEL

The GroEL/ES chaperonin is known to prevent protein aggregation during folding by passive containment within the central cavity. The possible role of more active intervention is controversial. The HX MS method documents an organized hydrophobically stabilized folding preintermediate in the collapsed ensemble of maltose binding protein. A mutational defect destabilizes the preintermediate and greatly slows folding of the subsequent on-pathway H-bonded intermediate. GroEL encapsulation alone, without ATP and substrate protein cycling, restabilizes the preintermediate and restores fast folding. The mechanism appears to depend on forceful compression during confinement. More generally, these results suggest that GroEL can repair different folding defects in different ways.

We used hydrogen exchange–mass spectrometry (HX MS) and fluorescence to compare the folding of maltose binding protein (MBP) in free solution and in the GroEL/ES cavity. Upon refolding, MBP initially collapses into a dynamic molten globule-like ensemble, then forms an obligatory on-pathway native-like folding intermediate (1.2 seconds) that brings together sequentially remote segments and then folds globally after a long delay (30 seconds). A single valine to glycine mutation imposes a definable folding defect, slows early intermediate formation by 20-fold, and therefore subsequent global folding by approximately twofold. Simple encapsulation within GroEL repairs the folding defect and reestablishes fast folding, with or without ATP-driven cycling. Further examination exposes the structural mechanism. The early folding intermediate is stabilized by an organized cluster of 24 hydrophobic side chains. The cluster preexists in the collapsed ensemble before the H-bond formation seen by HX MS. The V9G mutation slows folding by disrupting the preintermediate cluster. GroEL restores wild-type folding rates by restabilizing the preintermediate, perhaps by a nonspecific equilibrium compression effect within its tightly confining central cavity. These results reveal an active GroEL function other than previously proposed mechanisms, suggesting that GroEL possesses different functionalities that are able to relieve different folding problems. The discovery of the preintermediate, its mutational destabilization, and its restoration by GroEL encapsulation was made possible by the measurement of a previously unexpected type of low-level HX protection, apparently not dependent on H-bonding, that may be characteristic of proteins in confined spaces.

Disassembly/reassembly strategy for the production of highly pure GroEL, a tetradecameric supramolecular machine, suitable for quantitative NMR, EPR and mutational studies

GroEL, a prototypical member of the chaperonin class of chaperones, is a large supramocular machine that assists protein folding and plays an important role in proteostasis. GroEL comprises two heptameric rings, each of which encloses a large cavity that provides a folding chamber for protein substrates. Many questions remain regarding the mechanistic details of GroEL facilitated protein folding. Thus, data at atomic resolution of the type provided by NMR and EPR are invaluable. Such studies often require complete deuteration of GroEL, uniform or residue specific ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotope labeling, and the introduction of selective cysteine mutations for site-specific spin labeling. In addition, high purity GroEL is essential for detailed studies of substrate-GroEL interactions as quantitative interpretation is impossible if the cavities are already occupied and blocked by other protein substrates present in the bacterial expression system. Here we present a new purification protocol designed to provide highly pure GroEL devoid of non-specific protein substrate contamination.

Chaperonin GroEL accelerates protofibril formation and decorates fibrils of the Het-s prion protein

We have studied the interaction of the prototypical chaperonin GroEL with the prion domain of the Het-s protein using solution and solid-state NMR, electron and atomic force microscopies, and EPR. While GroEL accelerates Het-s protofibril formation by several orders of magnitude, the rate of appearance of fibrils is reduced. GroEL remains bound to Het-s throughout the aggregation process and densely decorates the fibrils at a regular spacing of ∼200 Å. GroEL binds to the Het-s fibrils via its apical domain located at the top of the large open ring. Thus, apo GroEL and bullet-shaped GroEL/GroES complexes in which only a single ring is capped by GroES interact with the Het-s fibrils; no evidence is seen for any interaction with football-shaped GroEL/GroES complexes in which both rings are capped by GroES. EPR spectroscopy shows that rotational motion of a nitroxide spin label, placed at the N-terminal end of the first β-strand of Het-s fibrils, is significantly reduced in both Het-s/GroEL aggregates and Het-s fibrils, but virtually completely eliminated in Het-s/GroEL fibrils, suggesting that in the latter, GroEL may come into close proximity to the nitroxide label. Solid-state NMR measurements indicate that GroEL binds to the mobile regions of the Het-s fibril comprising the N-terminal tail and a loop connecting β-strands 4 and 5, consistent with interactions involving GroEL binding consensus sequences located therein.

GroEL actively stimulates folding of the endogenous substrate protein PepQ

Many essential proteins cannot fold without help from chaperonins, like the GroELS system of Escherichia coli. How chaperonins accelerate protein folding remains controversial. Here we test key predictions of both passive and active models of GroELS-stimulated folding, using the endogenous E. coli metalloprotease PepQ. While GroELS increases the folding rate of PepQ by over 15-fold, we demonstrate that slow spontaneous folding of PepQ is not caused by aggregation. Fluorescence measurements suggest that, when folding inside the GroEL-GroES cavity, PepQ populates conformations not observed during spontaneous folding in free solution. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we show that the GroEL C-termini make physical contact with the PepQ folding intermediate and help retain it deep within the GroEL cavity, resulting in reduced compactness of the PepQ monomer. Our findings strongly support an active model of chaperonin-mediated protein folding, where partial unfolding of misfolded intermediates plays a key role.

In the prevailing model for assisted protein folding, chaperonins act passively by preventing protein aggregation. Here, the authors use single-molecule fluorescence measurements and cryo-electron microscopy and show that the E. coli GroELS chaperonin system also has an active role in folding the endogenous bacterial protein PepQ.

Transient Kinetic Analysis of ATP Hydrolysis by the CCT/TRiC Chaperonin

The chaperonin-containing t-complex polypeptide 1 (CCT, also known as TRiC) assists protein folding in an ATP-dependent manner. CCT/TRiC was mixed rapidly with different concentrations of ATP, and the amount of phosphate formed upon ATP hydrolysis was measured as a function of time using the coumarin-labeled phosphate-binding protein method. Two burst phases were observed, followed by a lag phase and then a linear steady-state phase of ATP hydrolysis. The phases were assigned by (i) determining their dependence on ATP and K⁺ concentrations and (ii) by measuring their sensitivity to the mutation Gly345→Asp in subunit CCT4, which decreases cooperativity in ATP binding. The values of the observed rate constants corresponding to the burst phases are found to decrease with increasing ATP and K⁺ concentrations, thereby indicating that the apo state of CCT/TRiC is in equilibrium between several conformations and that "conformational selection" by ATP takes place before hydrolysis. The amplitude of the lag phase, which follows, decreases with increasing ATP concentrations, thus indicating that it reflects a transition between states with low affinity for ATP and a state with high affinity for ATP that is predominant under steady-state conditions. A kinetic model based on the data is suggested, in which CCT/TRiC is in equilibrium between a relatively large number of states that are distinguished kinetically, in agreement with its proposed sequential allosteric mechanism.

Chaperonin GroEL uses asymmetric and symmetric reaction cycles in response to the concentration of non-native substrate proteins

The Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL is an essential molecular chaperone that mediates protein folding in association with its cofactor, GroES. It is widely accepted that GroEL alternates the GroES-sealed folding-active rings during the reaction cycle. In other words, an asymmetric GroEL–GroES complex is formed during the cycle, whereas a symmetric GroEL–(GroES)₂ complex is not formed. However, this conventional view has been challenged by the recent reports indicating that such symmetric complexes can be formed in the GroEL–GroES reaction cycle. In this review, we discuss the studies of the symmetric GroEL–(GroES)₂ complex, focusing on the molecular mechanism underlying its formation. We also suggest that GroEL can be involved in two types of reaction cycles (asymmetric or symmetric) and the type of cycle used depends on the concentration of non-native substrate proteins.

Allosteric Mechanisms in Chaperonin Machines

Chaperonins are nanomachines that facilitate protein folding by undergoing energy (ATP)-dependent movements that are coordinated in time and space owing to complex allosteric regulation. They consist of two back-to-back stacked oligomeric rings with a cavity at each end where protein substrate folding can take place. Here, we focus on the GroEL/GroES chaperonin system from Escherichia coli and, to a lesser extent, on the more poorly characterized eukaryotic chaperonin CCT/TRiC. We describe their various functional (allosteric) states and how they are affected by substrates and allosteric effectors that include ATP, ADP, nonfolded protein substrates, potassium ions, and GroES (in the case of GroEL). We also discuss the pathways of intra- and inter-ring allosteric communication by which they interconvert and the coupling between allosteric transitions and protein folding reactions.

Chaperonin-Assisted Protein Folding: Relative Population of Asymmetric and Symmetric GroEL:GroES Complexes

The chaperonin GroEL, a cylindrical complex consisting of two stacked heptameric rings, and its lid-like cofactor GroES form a nano-cage in which a single polypeptide chain is transiently enclosed and allowed to fold unimpaired by aggregation. GroEL and GroES undergo an ATP-regulated interaction cycle that serves to close and open the folding cage. Recent reports suggest that the presence of non-native substrate protein alters the GroEL/ES reaction by shifting it from asymmetric to symmetric complexes. In the asymmetric reaction mode, only one ring of GroEL is GroES bound and the two rings function sequentially, coupled by negative allostery. In the symmetric mode, both GroEL rings are GroES bound and are folding active simultaneously. Here, we find that the results of assays based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer recently used to quantify symmetric complexes depend strongly on the fluorophore pair used. We therefore developed a novel assay based on fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy to accurately measure GroEL:GroES stoichiometry. This assay avoids fluorophore labeling of GroEL and the use of GroEL cysteine mutants. Our results show that symmetric GroEL:GroES2 complexes are substantially populated only in the presence of non-foldable model proteins, such as α-lactalbumin and α-casein, which "over-stimulate" the GroEL ATPase and uncouple the negative GroEL inter-ring allostery. In contrast, asymmetric complexes are dominant both in the absence of substrate and in the presence of foldable substrate proteins. Moreover, uncoupling of the GroEL rings and formation of symmetric GroEL:GroES2 complexes is suppressed at physiological ATP:ADP concentration. We conclude that the asymmetric GroEL:GroES complex represents the main folding active form of the chaperonin.

Formation and structures of GroEL:GroES2 chaperonin footballs, the protein-folding functional form

The GroE chaperonins assist substrate protein (SP) folding by cycling through several conformational states. With each cycle the SP is, in turn, captured, unfolded, briefly encapsulated (t1/2 ∼ 1 s), and released by the chaperonin complex. The protein-folding functional form is the US-football-shaped GroEL:GroES2 complex. We report structures of two such "football" complexes to ∼ 3.7-Å resolution; one is empty whereas the other contains encapsulated SP in both chambers. Although encapsulated SP is not visible on the electron density map, using calibrated FRET and order-of-addition experiments we show that owing to SP-catalyzed ADP/ATP exchange both chambers of the football complex encapsulate SP efficiently only if the binding of SP precedes that of ATP. The two rings of GroEL thus behave as a parallel processing machine, rather than functioning alternately. Compared with the bullet-shaped GroEL:GroES1 complex, the GroEL:GroES2 football complex differs conformationally at the GroEL-GroES interface and also at the interface between the two GroEL rings. We propose that the electrostatic interactions between the ε-NH(3+) of K105 of helix D in one ring with the negatively charged carboxyl oxygen of A109 at the carboxyl end of helix D of the other ring provide the structural basis for negative inter-ring cooperativity.

Using ¹⁵N-ammonium to characterise and map potassium binding sites in proteins by NMR spectroscopy

A variety of enzymes are activated by the binding of potassium ions. The potassium binding sites of these enzymes are very specific, but ammonium ions can often replace potassium ions in vitro because of their similar ionic radii. In these cases, ammonium can be used as a proxy for potassium to characterise potassium binding sites in enzymes: the (1) H,(15) N spin-pair of enzyme-bound (15) NH4 (+) can be probed by (15) N-edited heteronuclear NMR experiments. Here, we demonstrate the use of NMR spectroscopy to characterise binding of ammonium ions to two different enzymes: human histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), which is activated allosterically by potassium, and the bacterial Hsp70 homologue DnaK, for which potassium is an integral part of the active site. Ammonium activates both enzymes in a similar way to potassium, thus supporting this non-invasive approach. Furthermore, we present an approach to map the observed binding site onto the structure of HDAC8. Our method for mapping the binding site is general and does not require chemical shift assignment of the enzyme resonances.

Substrate protein switches GroE chaperonins from asymmetric to symmetric cycling by catalyzing nucleotide exchange

The complex kinetics of Pi and ADP release by the chaperonin GroEL/GroES is influenced by the presence of unfolded substrate protein (SP). Without SP, the kinetics of Pi release are described by four phases: a "lag," a "burst" of ATP hydrolysis by the nascent cis ring, a "delay" caused by ADP release from the nascent trans ring, and steady-state ATP hydrolysis. The release of Pi precedes the release of ADP. The rate-determining step of the asymmetric cycle is the release of ADP from the trans ring of the GroEL-GroES1 "bullet" complex that is, consequently, the predominant species. In the asymmetric cycle, the two rings of GroEL function alternately, 180° out of phase. In the presence of SP, a change in the kinetic mechanism occurs. With SP present, the kinetics of ADP release are also described by four phases: a lag, a "surge" of ADP release attributable to SP-induced ADP/ATP exchange, and a "pause" during which symmetrical "football" particles are formed, followed by steady-state ATP hydrolysis. SP catalyzes ADP/ATP exchange on the trans ring. Now ADP release precedes the release of Pi, and the rate-determining step of the symmetric cycle becomes the hydrolysis of ATP by the symmetric GroEL-GroES2 football complex that is, consequently, the predominant species. A FRET-based analysis confirms that asymmetric GroEL-GroES1 bullets predominate in the absence of SP, whereas symmetric GroEL-GroES2 footballs predominate in the presence of SP. This evidence suggests that symmetrical football particles are the folding functional form of the chaperonin machine in vivo.

Symmetric GroEL:GroES2 complexes are the protein-folding functional form of the chaperonin nanomachine

Using calibrated FRET, we show that the simultaneous occupancy of both rings of GroEL by ATP and GroES occurs, leading to the rapid formation of symmetric GroEL:GroES2 "football" particles regardless of the presence or absence of substrate protein (SP). In the absence of SP, these symmetric particles revert to asymmetric GroEL:GroES1 "bullet" particles. The breakage of GroES symmetry requires the stochastic hydrolysis of ATP and the breakage of nucleotide symmetry. These asymmetric particles are both persistent and dynamic; they turnover via the asymmetric cycle. When challenged with SP, however, they revert to symmetric particles within a second. In the presence of SP, the symmetric particles are also persistent and dynamic. They turn over via the symmetric cycle. Under these conditions, the stochastic hydrolysis of ATP and the breakage of nucleotide symmetry also occur within the ensemble of particles. However, on account of SP-catalyzed ADP/ATP exchange, GroES symmetry is rapidly restored. The residence time of both GroES and SP on functional GroEL is reduced to ∼1 s, enabling many more iterations than was previously believed possible, consistent with the iterative annealing mechanism. This result is inconsistent with currently accepted models. Using a foldable SP, we show that as the SP folds to the native state and the population of unfolded SP declines, the population of symmetric particles reverts to asymmetric particles in parallel, a result that is consistent with the former being the folding functional form.

Repetitive protein unfolding by the trans ring of the GroEL-GroES chaperonin complex stimulates folding

A key constraint on the growth of most organisms is the slow and inefficient folding of many essential proteins. To deal with this problem, several diverse families of protein folding machines, known collectively as molecular chaperones, developed early in evolutionary history. The functional role and operational steps of these remarkably complex nanomachines remain subjects of active debate. Here we present evidence that, for the GroEL-GroES chaperonin system, the non-native substrate protein enters the folding cycle on the trans ring of the double-ring GroEL-ATP-GroES complex rather than the ADP-bound complex. The properties of this ATP complex are designed to ensure that non-native substrate protein binds first, followed by ATP and finally GroES. This binding order ensures efficient occupancy of the open GroEL ring and allows for disruption of misfolded structures through two phases of multiaxis unfolding. In this model, repeated cycles of partial unfolding, followed by confinement within the GroEL-GroES chamber, provide the most effective overall mechanism for facilitating the folding of the most stringently dependent GroEL substrate proteins.

Crystal structure of a GroEL-ADP complex in the relaxed allosteric state at 2.7 Å resolution

The chaperonin proteins GroEL and GroES are cellular nanomachines driven by the hydrolysis of ATP that facilitate the folding of structurally diverse substrate proteins. In response to ligand binding, the subunits of a ring cycle in a concerted manner through a series of allosteric states (T, R, and R″), enabling work to be performed on the substrate protein. Removing two salt bridges that ordinarily break during the allosteric transitions of the WT permitted the structure of GroEL-ADP in the R state to be solved to 2.7 Å resolution. Whereas the equatorial domain displays almost perfect sevenfold symmetry, the apical domains, to which substrate proteins bind, and to a lesser extent, the intermediate domains display a remarkable asymmetry. Freed of intersubunit contacts, the apical domain of each subunit adopts a different conformation, suggesting a flexibility that permits interaction with diverse substrate proteins. This result contrasts with a previous cryo-EM study of a related allosteric ATP-bound state at lower resolution. After artificially imposing sevenfold symmetry it was concluded that a GroEL ring in the R-ATP state existed in six homogeneous but slightly different states. By imposing sevenfold symmetry on each of the subunits of the crystal structure of GroEL-ADP, we showed that the synthetic rings of (X-ray) GroEL-ADP and (cryo-EM) GroEL-ATP are structurally closely related. A deterministic model, the click stop mechanism, that implied temporal transitions between these states was proposed. Here, however, these conformational states are shown to exist as a structurally heterogeneous ensemble within a single ring.

Measuring how much work the chaperone GroEL can do

Noncovalently "stacked" tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) dimers have been used to both report and perturb the allosteric equilibrium in GroEL. A GroEL mutant (K242C) has been labeled with TMR, close to the peptide-binding site in the apical domain, such that TMR molecules on adjacent subunits are able to form dimers in the T allosteric state. Addition of ATP induces the transition to the R state and the separation of the peptide-binding sites, with concomitant unstacking of the TMR dimers. A statistical analysis of the spectra allowed us to compute the number and orientation of TMR dimers per ring as a function of the average number of TMR molecules per ring. The TMR dimers thus serve as quantitative reporter of the allosteric state of the system. The TMR dimers also serve as a surrogate for substrate protein, substituting in a more homogeneous, quantifiable manner for the heterogeneous intersubunit, intraring, noncovalent cross-links provided by the substrate protein. The characteristic stimulation of the ATPase activity by substrate protein is also mimicked by the TMR dimers. Using an expanded version of the nested cooperativity model, we determine values for the free energy of the TT to TR and TR to RR allosteric equilibria to be 27 ± 11 and 46 ± 2 kJ/mol, respectively. The free energy of unstacking of the TMR dimers was estimated at 2.6 ± 1.0 kJ/mol dimer. These results demonstrate that GroEL can perform work during the T to R transition, supporting the iterative annealing model of chaperonin function.

Nucleotide-induced conformational changes of tetradecameric GroEL mapped by H/D exchange monitored by FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Here we employ hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to access E. coli chaperonin GroEL conformation. The ~800 kDa tetradecameric GroEL plays an essential role in the proper folding of many proteins. Previous studies of the structural dynamics of GroEL upon ATP binding have been inconsistent, showing either minimal or major allosteric changes. Our results, based on the native, non-mutated, protein under physiological conditions in solution demonstrate substantial changes in conformation and/or flexibility upon ATP binding. We capture the pivotal step in its functional cycle by use of a non-hydrolyzable ATP analog, ATPγS, to mimic the ATP-bound GroEL state. Comparison of HDX-MS results for apo GroEL and GroEL-ATPγS enables the characterization of the nucleotide-regulated conformational changes throughout the entire protein with high sequence resolution. The 14-mer GroEL complex is the largest protein assembly yet accessed by HDX-MS, with sequence resolution of segments of as few as five amino acids.

Identification of elements that dictate the specificity of mitochondrial Hsp60 for its co-chaperonin

Type I chaperonins (cpn60/Hsp60) are essential proteins that mediate the folding of proteins in bacteria, chloroplast and mitochondria. Despite the high sequence homology among chaperonins, the mitochondrial chaperonin system has developed unique properties that distinguish it from the widely-studied bacterial system (GroEL and GroES). The most relevant difference to this study is that mitochondrial chaperonins are able to refold denatured proteins only with the assistance of the mitochondrial co-chaperonin. This is in contrast to the bacterial chaperonin, which is able to function with the help of co-chaperonin from any source. The goal of our work was to determine structural elements that govern the specificity between chaperonin and co-chaperonin pairs using mitochondrial Hsp60 as model system. We used a mutagenesis approach to obtain human mitochondrial Hsp60 mutants that are able to function with the bacterial co-chaperonin, GroES. We isolated two mutants, a single mutant (E321K) and a double mutant (R264K/E358K) that, together with GroES, were able to rescue an E. coli strain, in which the endogenous chaperonin system was silenced. Although the mutations are located in the apical domain of the chaperonin, where the interaction with co-chaperonin takes place, none of the residues are located in positions that are directly responsible for co-chaperonin binding. Moreover, while both mutants were able to function with GroES, they showed distinct functional and structural properties. Our results indicate that the phenotype of the E321K mutant is caused mainly by a profound increase in the binding affinity to all co-chaperonins, while the phenotype of R264K/E358K is caused by a slight increase in affinity toward co-chaperonins that is accompanied by an alteration in the allosteric signal transmitted upon nucleotide binding. The latter changes lead to a great increase in affinity for GroES, with only a minor increase in affinity toward the mammalian mitochondrial co-chaperonin.

Single-molecule observation of protein folding in symmetric GroEL-(GroES)2 complexes

The chaperonin, GroEL, is an essential molecular chaperone that mediates protein folding together with its cofactor, GroES, in Escherichia coli. It is widely believed that the two rings of GroEL alternate between the folding active state coupled to GroES binding during the reaction cycle. In other words, an asymmetric GroEL-GroES complex (the bullet-shaped complex) is formed throughout the cycle, whereas a symmetric GroEL-(GroES)(2) complex (the football-shaped complex) is not formed. We have recently shown that the football-shaped complex coexists with the bullet-shaped complex during the reaction cycle. However, how protein folding proceeds in the football-shaped complex remains poorly understood. Here, we used GFP as a substrate to visualize protein folding in the football-shaped complex by single-molecule fluorescence techniques. We directly showed that GFP folding occurs in both rings of the football-shaped complex. Remarkably, the folding was a sequential two-step reaction, and the kinetics were in excellent agreement with those in the bullet-shaped complex. These results demonstrate that the same reactions take place independently in both rings of the football-shaped complex to facilitate protein folding.

Dissecting a bimolecular process of MgATP²- binding to the chaperonin GroEL

Although allosteric transitions of GroEL by MgATP(2)(-) have been widely studied, the initial bimolecular step of MgATP(2-) binding to GroEL remains unclear. Here, we studied the equilibrium and kinetics of MgATP(2)(-) binding to a variant of GroEL, in which Tyr485 was replaced by tryptophan, via isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy. In the absence of K(+) at 4-5 °C, the allosteric transitions and the subsequent ATP hydrolysis by GroEL are halted, and hence, the stopped-flow fluorescence kinetics induced by rapid mixing of MgATP(2)(-) and the GroEL variant solely reflected MgATP(2)(-) binding, which was well represented by bimolecular noncooperative binding with a binding rate constant, k(on), of 9.14×10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and a dissociation rate constant, k(off), of 14.2 s(-1), yielding a binding constant, K(b) (=k(on)/k(off)), of 6.4×10(3) M(-1). We also successfully performed ITC to measure binding isotherms of MgATP(2)(-) to GroEL and obtained a K(b) of 9.5×10(3) M(-1) and a binding stoichiometric number of 6.6. K(b) was thus in good agreement with that obtained by stopped-flow fluorescence. In the presence of 10-50 mM KCl, the fluorescence kinetics consisted of three to four phases (the first fluorescence-increasing phase, followed by one or two exponential fluorescence-decreasing phases, and the final slow fluorescence-increasing phase), and comparison of the kinetics in the absence and presence of K(+) clearly demonstrated that the first fluorescence-increasing phase corresponds to bimolecular MgATP(2)(-) binding to GroEL. The temperature dependence of the kinetics indicated that MgATP(2)(-) binding to GroEL was activation-controlled with an activation enthalpy as large as 14-16 kcal mol(-1).

Denatured proteins facilitate the formation of the football-shaped GroEL-(GroES)2 complex

Controversy exists over whether the chaperonin GroEL forms a GroEL-(GroES)2 complex (football-shaped complex) during its reaction cycle. We have revealed previously the existence of the football-shaped complex in the chaperonin reaction cycle using a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) assay [Sameshima, Ueno, Iizuka, Ishii, Terada, Okabe and Funatsu (2008) J. Biol. Chem. 283, 23765-23773]. Although denatured proteins alter the ATPase activity of GroEL and the dynamics of the GroEL-GroES interaction, the effect of denatured proteins on the formation of the football-shaped complex has not been characterized. In the present study, a FRET assay was used to demonstrate that denatured proteins facilitate the formation of the football-shaped complex. The presence of denatured proteins was also found to increase the rate of association of GroES to the trans-ring of GroEL. Furthermore, denatured proteins decrease the inhibitory influence of ADP on ATP-induced association of GroES to the trans-ring of GroEL. From these findings we conclude that denatured proteins facilitate the dissociation of ADP from the trans-ring of GroEL and the concomitant association of ATP and the second GroES.

Out-of-equilibrium conformational cycling of GroEL under saturating ATP concentrations

The molecular chaperone GroEL exists in at least two allosteric states, T and R, that interconvert in an ATP-controlled manner. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that the T-state population becomes negligible with increasing ATP concentrations, in conflict with the requirement for conformational cycling, which is essential for the operation of molecular machines. To solve this conundrum, we performed fluorescence correlation spectroscopy on the single-ring version of GroEL, using a fluorescent switch recently built into its structure, which turns "on," i.e., increases its fluorescence dramatically, when ATP is added. A series of correlation functions was measured as a function of ATP concentration and analyzed using singular-value decomposition. The analysis assigned the signal to two states whose dynamics clearly differ. Surprisingly, even at ATP saturation, approximately 50% of the molecules still populate the T state at any instance of time, indicating constant out-of-equilibrium cycling between T and R. Only upon addition of the cochaperonin GroES does the T-state population vanish. Our results suggest a model in which the T/R ratio is controlled by the rate of ADP release after hydrolysis, which can be determined accordingly.

Reconciling theories of chaperonin accelerated folding with experimental evidence

For the last 20 years, a large volume of experimental and theoretical work has been undertaken to understand how chaperones like GroEL can assist protein folding in the cell. The most accepted explanation appears to be the simplest: GroEL, like most other chaperones, helps proteins fold by preventing aggregation. However, evidence suggests that, under some conditions, GroEL can play a more active role by accelerating protein folding. A large number of models have been proposed to explain how this could occur. Focused experiments have been designed and carried out using different protein substrates with conclusions that support many different mechanisms. In the current article, we attempt to see the forest through the trees. We review all suggested mechanisms for chaperonin-mediated folding and weigh the plausibility of each in light of what we now know about the most stringent, essential, GroEL-dependent protein substrates.

Use of thallium to identify monovalent cation binding sites in GroEL

GroEL is a bacterial chaperone protein that assembles into a homotetradecameric complex exhibiting D(7) symmetry and utilizes the co-chaperone protein GroES and ATP hydrolysis to assist in the proper folding of a variety of cytosolic proteins. GroEL utilizes two metal cofactors, Mg(2+) and K(+), to bind and hydrolyze ATP. A K(+)-binding site has been proposed to be located next to the nucleotide-binding site, but the available structural data do not firmly support this conclusion. Moreover, more than one functionally significant K(+)-binding site may exist within GroEL. Because K(+) has important and complex effects on GroEL activity and is involved in both positive (intra-ring) and negative (inter-ring) cooperativity for ATP hydrolysis, it is important to determine the exact location of these cation-binding site(s) within GroEL. In this study, the K(+) mimetic Tl(+) was incorporated into GroEL crystals, a moderately redundant 3.94 A resolution X-ray diffraction data set was collected from a single crystal and the strong anomalous scattering signal from the thallium ion was used to identify monovalent cation-binding sites. The results confirmed the previously proposed placement of K(+) next to the nucleotide-binding site and also identified additional binding sites that may be important for GroEL function and cooperativity. These findings also demonstrate the general usefulness of Tl(+) for the identification of monovalent cation-binding sites in protein crystal structures, even when the quality and resolution of the diffraction data are relatively low.

Setting the chaperonin timer: a two-stroke, two-speed, protein machine

In a study of the timing mechanism of the chaperonin nanomachine we show that the hemicycle time (HCT) is determined by the mean residence time (MRT) of GroES on the cis ring of GroEL. In turn, this is governed by allosteric interactions within the trans ring of GroEL. Ligands that enhance the R (relaxed) state (residual ADP, the product of the previous hemicycle, and K(+)) extend the MRT and the HCT, whereas ligands that enhance the T (taut) state (unfolded substrate protein, SP) decrease the MRT and the HCT. In the absence of SP, the chaperonin machine idles in the resting state, but in the presence of SP it operates close to the speed limit, set by the rate of ATP hydrolysis by the cis ring. Thus, the conformational states of the trans ring largely control the speed of the complete chaperonin cycle.