Using lanthanide ions to align troponin complexes in solution: order of lanthanide occupancy in cardiac troponin C

Effects of calcium binding and the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy A8V mutation on the dynamic equilibrium between closed and open conformations of the regulatory N-domain of isolated cardiac troponin C

Troponin C (TnC) is the calcium-binding subunit of the troponin complex responsible for initiating striated muscle contraction in response to calcium influx. In the skeletal TnC isoform, calcium binding induces a structural change in the regulatory N-domain of TnC that involves a transition from a closed to open structural state and accompanying exposure of a large hydrophobic patch for troponin I (TnI) to subsequently bind. However, little is understood about how calcium primes the N-domain of the cardiac isoform (cTnC) for interaction with the TnI subunit as the open conformation of the regulatory domain of cTnC has been observed only in the presence of bound TnI. Here we use paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) to characterize the closed to open transition of isolated cTnC in solution, a process that cannot be observed by traditional nuclear magnetic resonance methods. Our PRE data from four spin-labeled monocysteine constructs of isolated cTnC reveal that calcium binding triggers movement of the N-domain helices toward an open state. Fitting of the PRE data to a closed to open transition model reveals the presence of a small population of cTnC molecules in the absence of calcium that possess an open conformation, the level of which increases substantially upon Ca(2+) binding. These data support a model in which calcium binding creates a dynamic equilibrium between the closed and open structural states to prime cTnC for interaction with its target peptide. We also used PRE data to assess the structural effects of a familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy point mutation located within the N-domain of cTnC (A8V). The PRE data show that the Ca(2+) switch mechanism is perturbed by the A8V mutation, resulting in a more open N-domain conformation in both the apo and holo states.

A pH-sensitive, colorful, lanthanide-chelating paramagnetic NMR probe

Paramagnetic lanthanides ions are broadly used in NMR spectroscopy. The effects of unpaired electrons on NMR spectral parameters provide a powerful tool for the characterization of macromolecular structures and dynamics. Here, a new lanthanide-chelating NMR probe, Caged Lanthanide NMR Probe-7 (CLaNP-7), is presented. It can be attached to protein surfaces via two disulfide bridges, yielding a probe that is rigid relative to the protein backbone. CLaNP-7 extends the application range of available probes. It has a yellow color, which is helpful for sample preparation. Its effects are comparable to those of CLaNP-5, but its charge is two units lower (+1) than that of CLaNP-5 (+3), reducing the change in surface potential after probe attachment. It also has a different magnetic susceptibility tensor, so by using both tags, two sets of structural restraints can be obtained per engineered cysteine pair. Moreover, it was found that the orientation of the magnetic susceptibility tensor is pH dependent (pK(a) ≈ 7) when a histidine residue is located in the neighborhood of the probe attachment site. The results show that the His imidazole group interacts with the CLaNP-7 tag. It is proposed that the histidine residue forms a hydrogen bond to a water/hydroxyl molecule that occupies the ninth coordination position on the lanthanide, thus breaking the two-fold symmetry of the CLaNP tag in a pH-dependent way.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a lanthanide chelating protein probe: CLaNP-5 yields predictable paramagnetic effects independent of environment

Immobilized lanthanide ions offer the opportunity to refine structures of proteins and the complexes they form by using restraints obtained from paramagnetic NMR experiments. We report the design, synthesis, and spectroscopic evaluation of the lanthanide chelator, Caged Lanthanide NMR Probe 5 (CLaNP-5) readily attachable to a protein surface via two cysteine residues. The probe causes tunable pseudocontact shifts, alignment, paramagnetic relaxation enhancement, and luminescence, by chelating it to the appropriate lanthanide ion. The observation of single shifts and the finding that the magnetic susceptibility tensors obtained from shifts and alignment analyses are highly similar strongly indicate that the probe is rigid with respect to the protein backbone. By placing the probe at various positions on a model protein it is demonstrated that the size and orientation of the magnetic susceptibility tensor of the probe are independent of the local protein environment. Consequently, the effects of the probe are readily predictable using a protein structure only. These findings designate CLaNP-5 as a protein probe to deliver unambiguous high quality structural restraints in studies on protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.

Long-Range-Distance NMR Effects in a Protein Labeled with a Lanthanide–DOTA Chelate

A two-thiol reactive lanthanide-DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid) chelate, CLaNP-3 (CLaNP=caged lanthanide NMR probe), was synthesized for the rigid attachment to cysteine groups on a protein surface, and used to obtain long-range-distance information from the {15N,1H} HSQC spectra of the protein-lanthanide complex. The DOTA ring exhibits several isomers that are in exchange; however, single resonances were observed for most amide groups in the protein, allowing determination of a single, apparent magnetic-susceptibility tensor. Pseudocontact shifts caused by Yb-containing CLaNP-3 were observed for atoms at 15-35 A from the metal. By using Gd-containing CLaNP-3, relaxation effects were observed, allowing distances up to 30 A from the paramagnetic center to be determined accurately. Similar results were obtained with a Gd-DTPA (diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid) chelate, CLaNP-1, bound in the same bidentate manner to the protein. This study demonstrates that bidentate attachment of a paramagnetic probe enables determination of long-range distances.

Observation of microsecond time-scale protein dynamics in the presence of Ln3+ ions: application to the N-terminal domain of cardiac troponin C

The microsecond time-scale motions in the N-terminal domain of cardiac troponin C (NcTnC) loaded with lanthanide ions have been investigated by means of a (1)H(N) off-resonance spin-lock experiment. The observed relaxation dispersion effects strongly increase along the series of NcTnC samples containing La(3+), Ce(3+), and Pr(3+) ions. This rise in dispersion effects is due to modulation of long-range pseudocontact shifts by micros time-scale dynamics. Specifically, the motion in the coordination sphere of the lanthanide ion (i.e. in the NcTnC EF-hand motif) causes modulation of the paramagnetic susceptibility tensor which, in turn, causes modulation of pseudocontact shifts. It is also probable that opening/closing dynamics, previously identified in Ca(2+)-NcTnC, contributes to some of the observed dispersions. On the other hand, it is unlikely that monomer-dimer exchange in the solution of NcTnC is directly responsible for the dispersion effects. Finally, on-off exchange of the lanthanide ion does not seem to play any significant role. The amplification of dispersion effects by Ln(3+) ions is a potentially useful tool for studies of micros-ms motions in proteins. This approach makes it possible to observe the dispersions even when the local environment of the reporting spin does not change. This happens, for example, when the motion involves a 'rigid' structural unit such as individual alpha-helix. Even more significantly, the dispersions based on pseudocontact shifts offer better chances for structural characterization of the dynamic species. This method can be generalized for a large class of applications via the use of specially designed lanthanide-binding tags.

A novel plasminogen activator from Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis venom (ABUSV-PA): Purification and characterization

A plasminogen activator with arginine ester hydrolysis activity (ABUSV-PA) has been identified and purified to homogeneity from Chinese Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis snake venom. ABUSV-PA, a monomeric protein with molecular mass of 27815.2 Da, was purified 180-fold with 0.02% recovery for protein and 3.6% recovery for esterase activity. ABUSV-PA reacts optimally with its substrate N(alpha)-tosyl-l-arginine-methyl ester (TAME) at approximately pH 7.5 and at 51 degrees C. Measurement from inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) reveals that ABUSV-PA is a Zn(2+)-containing protein with a stoichiometry of 1:1 [Zn(2+)]:[ABUSV-PA]. Analyses of esterase hydrolysis and UV absorption and CD spectra indicate that Zn(2+) plays an important role in maintaining the structural integrity rather than the esterase activity of ABUSV-PA. Divalent metal ions, including Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Mn(2+), and Co(2+), increase the TAME hydrolysis activity of ABUSV-PA. A red-shift of the emission wavelengths of the synchronous fluorescence of ABUSV-PA, compared to those of free Tyr and Trp, indicates a conformation where the Tyr and Trp residues are in exposed hydrophilic environments. The presence of zinc increases the hydrophobicity of the conformational environments surrounding the Trp residues of ABUSV-PA and affects the secondary structure of ABUSV-PA, as proved by UV absorption and CD spectroscopy.

Characterization of a fibrinolytic enzyme (ussurenase) from Agkistrodon blomhoffii ussurensis snake venom: Insights into the effects of Ca2+ on function and structure

Fibrino(geno)lytic enzymes from snake venoms have been identified as high quality therapeutic agents for treatment of blood clots and strokes. They act on fibrinogen and fibrin, leading to defibrinogenation of blood, lysis of fibrin, and a consequent decrease in blood viscosity. In this work, a fibrinolytic enzyme (ussurenase) from China Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis snake venom, was purified to homogeneity, identified as a stable 23,367.8 Da monomeric protein, and was identified as a new kind of snake venom metalloproteinase. Ussurenase reacts optimally with fibrin clots at pH 7.5-8.3 and a temperature of 33-41 degrees C. Although many fibrinolytic enzymes are known to be zinc-dependent, measurements from inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) reveal that ussurenase is a Ca2+-containing protein with a molar ratio of 1:1 ([Ca2+]:[enzyme]). Ca2+ is crucial to the fibrin clot hydrolysis by ussurenase but also plays an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of the enzyme. The addition of Ca2+ to the apoenzyme induces a conformational change making the environments surrounding the Trp residues of the enzyme more hydrophobic. The presence of Ca2+ also increases the structural stability of ussurenase, so that higher concentrations of the denaturant guanidine hydrochloride are required to denature the native ussurenase compared to the apo-form. UV absorption and CD spectroscopy experiments show that Ca2+ increases the thermostability and changes the secondary structure of ussurenase. All these data suggest that Ca2+ is crucial for the correct folding and activity of ussurenase.