Epitope randomization redefines the functional role of glutamic acid 110 in interleukin-5 receptor activation

Discovery, expression, cellular localization, and molecular properties of a novel, alternative spliced HP1γ isoform, lacking the chromoshadow domain

By reading the H3K9Me3 mark through their N-terminal chromodomain (CD), HP1 proteins play a significant role in cancer-associated processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, chromosomal stability, and DNA repair. Here, we used a combination of bioinformatics-based methodologies, as well as experimentally-derived datasets, that reveal the existence of a novel short HP1γ (CBX3) isoform, named here sHP1γ, generated by alternative splicing of the CBX3 locus. The sHP1γ mRNA encodes a protein composed of 101 residues and lacks the C-terminal chromoshadow domain (CSD) that is required for dimerization and heterodimerization in the previously described 183 a. a HP1γ protein. Fold recognition, order-to-disorder calculations, threading, homology-based molecular modeling, docking, and molecular dynamic simulations show that the sHP1γ is comprised of a CD flanked by intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) with an IDR-CD-IDR domain organization and likely retains the ability to bind to the H3K9Me3. Both qPCR analyses and mRNA-seq data derived from large-scale studies confirmed that sHP1γ mRNA is expressed in the majority of human tissues at approximately constant ratios with the chromoshadow domain containing isoform. However, sHP1γ mRNA levels appear to be dysregulated in different cancer types. Thus, our data supports the notion that, due to the existence of functionally different isoforms, the regulation of HP1γ-mediated functions is more complex than previously anticipated.

Receptor Epitope Usage by an Interleukin-5 Mimetic Peptide

The cyclic peptide AF17121 is a library-derived antagonist for human interleukin-5 (IL5) receptor alpha (IL5Ralpha) and inhibits IL5 activity. Our previous results have demonstrated that the sixth arginine residue of the peptide is crucial for the inhibitory effect and that several acidic residues in the N- and C-terminal regions also make a contribution, although to a lesser extent (Ruchala, P., Varadi, G., Ishino, T., Scibek, J., Bhattacharya, M., Urbina, C., Van Ryk, D., Uings, I., and Chaiken, I. (2004) Biopolymers 73, 556-568). However, the recognition mechanism of the receptor has remained unresolved. In this study, AF17121 was fused to thioredoxin by recombinant DNA techniques and examined for IL5Ralpha interaction using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor method. Kinetic analysis revealed that the dissociation rate of the peptide.receptor complex is comparable with that of the cytokine.receptor complex. The fusion peptide competed with IL5 for both biological function and interaction with IL5Ralpha, indicating that the binding sites on the receptor are shared by AF17121 and IL5. To define the epitope residues for AF17121, we defined its binding footprint on IL5Ralpha by alanine substitution of Asp(55), Asp(56), Glu(58), Lys(186), Arg(188), and Arg(297) of the receptor. Marked effects on the interaction were observed in all three fibronectin type III domains of IL5Ralpha, in particular Asp(55), Arg(188), and Arg(297) in the D1, D2, and D3 domains, respectively. This footprint represents a significant subset of that for IL5 binding. The fact that AF17121 mimics the receptor binding capability of IL5 but antagonizes biological function evokes several models for how IL5 induces activation of the multisubunit receptor system.

Cyclic peptide interleukin 5 antagonists mimic CD turn recognition epitope for receptor ?

The cyclic peptide AF17121 (Ac-VDECWRIIASHTWFCAEE) that inhibits interleukin 5 (IL-5) function and IL-5 receptor alpha-chain (IL-5Ralpha) binding has been derived from recombinant random peptide library screening and follow-up synthetic variation. To better understand the structural basis of its antagonist activity, AF17121 and a series of analogs of the parent peptide were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. Sequence variation was focused on the charged residues Asp(2), Glu(3), Arg(6), Glu(17), and Glu(18). Two of those residues, Glu(3) and Arg(6), form an EXXR motif that was found to be common among library-derived IL-5 antagonists. The E and R in the EXXR motif have a proximity similar to charged residues in a previously identified receptor alpha binding region, the beta-strand between the C- and D-helices of human IL-5. Optical biosensor interaction kinetics and cell proliferation assays were used to evaluate the antagonist activities of the purified synthetic peptides, by measuring competition with the highly active single chain IL-5. Analogs in which acidic residues (Asp(2), Glu(3), Glu(17), and Glu(18)) were replaced individually by Ala retained substantial competition activity, with multiple replacements in these residues leading to fractional loss of potency at most. In contrast, R6A analogs had strongly reduced competition activity. The results reveal that the arginine residue is crucial for the IL-5Ralpha binding of AF17121, while the acidic residues are not essential though likely complex-stabilizing particularly in the Asp(2)-Glu(3) region. By CD, AF17121 exhibited mostly disordered structure with evidence for a small beta-sheet content, and replacement of the arginine had no influence on the observed secondary structure of the peptides. The dominance of Arg(6) in AF17121 activity corresponds to previous findings of dominance of the positive charge balance in the antiparallel beta-sheet of IL-5 composed of (88)EERRR(92) in one strand of the CD turn region of IL-5 and with Arg(32) in the neighboring beta-strand. These results argue that AF17121 and related library-derived peptides function by mimicking the CD turn receptor alpha recognition epitope in IL-5 and open the way to small molecule antagonist design.

SiteLight: binding-site prediction using phage display libraries

Phage display enables the presentation of a large number of peptides on the surface of phage particles. Such libraries can be tested for binding to target molecules of interest by means of affinity selection. Here we present SiteLight, a novel computational tool for binding site prediction using phage display libraries. SiteLight is an algorithm that maps the 1D peptide library onto a three-dimensional (3D) protein surface. It is applicable to complexes made up of a protein Template and any type of molecule termed Target. Given the three-dimensional structure of a Template and a collection of sequences derived from biopanning against the Target, the Template interaction site with the Target is predicted. We have created a large diverse data set for assessing the ability of SiteLight to correctly predict binding sites. SiteLight predictive mapping enables discrimination between the binding and nonbinding parts of the surface. This prediction can be used to effectively reduce the surface by 75% without excluding the binding site. In 63% of the cases we have tested, there is at least one binding site prediction that overlaps the interface by at least 50%. These results suggest the applicability of phage display libraries for automated binding site prediction on three-dimensional structures. For most effective binding site prediction we propose using a random phage display library twice, to scan both binding partners of a given complex. The derived peptides are mapped to the other binding partner (now used as a Template). Here, the surface of each partner is reduced by 75%, focusing their relative positions with respect to each other significantly. Such information can be utilized to improve docking algorithms and scoring functions.

Biosensor analysis of dynamics of interleukin 5 receptor subunit beta(c) interaction with IL5:IL5R(alpha) complexes

To gain insight into IL5 receptor subunit recruitment mechanism, and in particular the experimentally elusive pathway for assembly of signaling subunit beta(c), we constructed a soluble beta(c) ectodomain (s(beta)(c)) and developed an optical biosensor assay to measure its binding kinetics. Functionally active s(beta)(c) was anchored via a C-terminal His tag to immobilized anti-His monoclonal antibodies on the sensor surface. Using this surface, we quantitated for the first time direct binding of s(beta)(c) to IL5R(alpha) complexed to either wild-type or single-chain IL5. Binding was much weaker if at all with either R(alpha) or IL5 alone. Kinetic evaluation revealed a moderate affinity (0.2-1 microM) and relatively fast off rate for the s(beta)(c) interaction with IL5:R(alpha) complexes. The data support a model in which beta(c) recruitment occurs with preformed IL5:R(alpha) complex. Dissociation kinetics analysis suggests that the IL5-alpha-beta(c) complex is relatively short-lived. Overall, this study solidifies a model of sequential recruitment of receptor subunits by IL5, provides a novel biosensor binding assay of beta(c) recruitment dynamics, and sets the stage for more advanced characterization of the roles of structural elements within R(alpha), beta(c), and cytokines of the IL5/IL3/GM-CSF family in receptor recruitment and activation.

Revealing and utilizing receptor recognition mechanisms in a high-throughput world

Recent genomic mapping promises to identify essentially all of the proteins that underpin normal and aberrant biology in humans. What genomics leaves undone is to determine how these proteins interact and integrate into molecular pathways in health and disease. Specific molecular interactions provide the fundamental mechanism for selectivity in virtually every aspect of biological structure and function. The convergence of structural and mutational studies makes it possible to define what parts of a protein are important for recognition. Still, knowing what is important does not necessarily foretell how binding epitopes actually function. We have applied the approach of epitope randomization on phage to explore how structural elements in such receptor recruitment systems as interleukin-5 (IL-5) and HIV-1 function in receptor recognition. This work has led in the IL-5 case to differentiation of recognition and activation epitopes, and this in turn has potential to help in the design of non-activating mimetics that could stimulate development of therapeutic antagonists for allergic inflammations such as asthma. Whether it is possible to differentiate recognition and activation in designing inhibitors in cases such as HIV-1 cell attachment and infection remains a tantalizing, but unsolved goal at present. Overall, these studies portray advances as well as limitations in the effort to decipher protein recognition mechanisms and utilize the wisdom gained for mechanism-based antagonist design in an increasingly high throughput world stimulated by the advent of genomics and proteomics.

Coiled coil miniprotein randomization on phage leads to charge pattern mimicry of the receptor recognition determinant of interleukin 5

Phage display was used to identify sequences that mimic structural determinants in interleukin5 (IL5) for IL5 receptor recognition. A coiled coil stem loop (CCSL) miniprotein scaffold library was constructed with its turn region randomized and panned for binding variants against human IL5 receptor alpha chain (IL5Ralpha). Competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays identified CCSL-phage selectants for which binding to IL5Ralpha was competed by IL5. The most frequently selected and IL5-competed CCSL-phage contain charged residues Arg and Glu in their turn sequences, in this regard resembling a beta strand sequence in the 'CD turn' region, of IL5, that has been proposed to present a key determinant for IL5 receptor alpha chain recognition. The most dominant CCSL-phage selectant sequence, PVEGRV, contains a negative/positive charge pattern similar to that seen in the original CD turn. To test the relatedness of CCSL-phage selectant sequences to the IL5 receptor recognition epitope, PVEGRV was grafted into the sequence 87--92 of a monomeric IL5. The resulting IL5 variant, [(87)PVEGRV(92)]GM1, was able to bind to IL5Ralpha in biosensor assays, to elicit TF-1 cell proliferation and to induce STAT5 phosphorylation in TF-1 cells. The results help discern sequence patterns in the IL5 CD turn region which are key in driving receptor recognition and demonstrate the utility of CCSL miniprotein scaffold phage display to identify local IL5 mimetic sequence arrangements that may ultimately lead to IL5 antagonists.

Survey of the year 2000 commercial optical biosensor literature

We have compiled a comprehensive list of the articles published in the year 2000 that describe work employing commercial optical biosensors. Selected reviews of interest for the general biosensor user are highlighted. Emerging applications in areas of drug discovery, clinical support, food and environment monitoring, and cell membrane biology are emphasized. In addition, the experimental design and data processing steps necessary to achieve high-quality biosensor data are described and examples of well-performed kinetic analysis are provided.