Rapid cadmium SAD phasing at the standard wavelength (1 Å)

High-Throughput Interactome Determination via Sulfur Anomalous Scattering

We propose a novel approach for detecting the binding between proteins making use of the anomalous diffraction of natively present heavy elements, e.g., sulfurs, inside molecular three-dimensional structures. In particular, we analytically and numerically show that the diffraction patterns produced by the anomalous scattering of the sulfur atoms in a given direction depend additively on the relative distances between all couples of sulfur atoms. Thus, the differences in the patterns produced by bound proteins with respect to their nonbonded states can be exploited to rapidly assess protein complex formation. On the basis of our results, we suggest a possible experimental procedure for detecting protein-protein binding. Overall, the completely label-free and rapid method we propose may be readily extended to probe interactions on a large scale, thus paving the way for the development of a novel field of research based on a synchrotron light source.

Crystal structure of BinAB toxin receptor (Cqm1) protein and molecular dynamics simulations reveal the role of unique Ca(II) ion

Glycoside hydrolase 13 (GH13) family represents a large and diverse enzyme family. Cqm1, an amylomaltase of Culex mosquito, belongs to the GH13 family and subfamily 17 (GH13_17). The protein acts as the receptor for mosquito-larvicidal BinAB toxin that is used world-wide for control of the mosquito population. The protein was crystallized in the presence of a mixture of divalent metal ions. Cqm1 crystal structure was solved using the MRSAD method using Cd(II) anomalous at 1.9 Å wavelength and the structure was refined against 1.8 Å synchrotron data. One tightly bound Ca(II) ion in each of the monomer was observed and this site is suggested here to be unique to the GH13_17 family. Molecular dynamics simulations provide clues for the functional role of Ca(II) ion shown earlier to be essential for enzymatic activity. An optimized substrate (maltotriose) bound structure of the complex was constructed based on which 'retaining-type' mechanism can be predicted reliably. It reveals large conformational change in aromatic residues situated at active-site entrance. A Cd(II) ion was observed overlapping with the substrate-binding site. Kinetics data suggests non-competitive inhibition of Cqm1 by Cd(II). This is the first structure from the GH13_17 family and provides template for constructing reliable models for other members.

Atomic view into Plasmodium actin polymerization, ATP hydrolysis, and fragmentation

Plasmodium actins form very short filaments and have a noncanonical link between ATP hydrolysis and polymerization. Long filaments are detrimental to the parasites, but the structural factors constraining Plasmodium microfilament lengths have remained unknown. Using high-resolution crystallography, we show that magnesium binding causes a slight flattening of the Plasmodium actin I monomer, and subsequent phosphate release results in a more twisted conformation. Thus, the Mg-bound monomer is closer in conformation to filamentous (F) actin than the Ca form, and this likely facilitates polymerization. A coordinated potassium ion resides in the active site during hydrolysis and leaves together with the phosphate, a process governed by the position of the Arg178/Asp180-containing A loop. Asp180 interacts with either Lys270 or His74, depending on the protonation state of the histidine, while Arg178 links the inner and outer domains (ID and OD) of the actin protomer. Hence, the A loop acts as a switch between stable and unstable filament conformations, the latter leading to fragmentation. Our data provide a comprehensive model for polymerization, ATP hydrolysis and phosphate release, and fragmentation of parasite microfilaments. Similar mechanisms may well exist in canonical actins, although fragmentation is much less favorable due to several subtle sequence differences as well as the methylation of His73, which is absent on the corresponding His74 in Plasmodium actin I.

A detailed mechanistic study of malaria parasite actins reveals at the atomic level how they polymerize, hydrolyze ATP, and are fragmented to keep actin filament lengths short enough for parasite survival.

Cadmium SAD phasing at CuKα wavelength

Single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) is the most common method for de novo elucidation of macromolecular structures by X-ray crystallography. It requires an anomalous scatterer in a crystal to calculate phases. A recent study by Panneerselvam et al. emphasized the utility of cadmium ions for SAD phasing at the standard synchrotron wavelength of 1 Å. Here we show that cadmium is also useful for phasing of crystals collected in-house with CuKα radiation. Using a crystal of single-domain antibody as an experimental model, we demonstrate how cadmium SAD can be conveniently employed to solve a CuKα dataset. We then discuss the factors which make this method generally applicable.