-
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Mar 2021Protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is associated with multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Kinetic data and biophysical...
Protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is associated with multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Kinetic data and biophysical characterization have shown that the secondary nucleation pathway highly accelerates aggregation via the absorption of monomeric protein on the surface of amyloid fibrils. Here, we used NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the interaction of monomeric α-synuclein (α-Syn) with its fibrillar form. We demonstrate that α-Syn monomers interact transiently via their positively charged N terminus with the negatively charged flexible C-terminal ends of the fibrils. These intermolecular interactions reduce intramolecular contacts in monomeric α-Syn, yielding further unfolding of the partially collapsed intrinsically disordered states of α-Syn along with a possible increase in the local concentration of soluble α-Syn and alignment of individual monomers on the fibril surface. Our data indicate that intramolecular unfolding critically contributes to the aggregation kinetics of α-Syn during secondary nucleation.
Topics: Humans; Kinetics; Protein Aggregates; Protein Unfolding; Structure-Activity Relationship; alpha-Synuclein
PubMed: 33649211
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012171118 -
Science Advances May 2024Understanding how the amino acid sequence dictates protein structure and defines its stability is a fundamental problem in molecular biology. It is especially...
Understanding how the amino acid sequence dictates protein structure and defines its stability is a fundamental problem in molecular biology. It is especially challenging for membrane proteins that reside in the complex environment of a lipid bilayer. Here, we obtain an atomic-level picture of the thermally induced unfolding of a membrane-embedded α-helical protein, human aquaporin 1, using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our data reveal the hierarchical two-step pathway that begins with unfolding of a structured extracellular loop and proceeds to an intermediate state with a native-like helical packing. In the second step, the transmembrane domain unravels as a single unit, resulting in a heterogeneous misfolded state with high helical content but with nonnative helical packing. Our results show the importance of loops for the kinetic stabilization of the whole membrane protein structure and support the three-stage membrane protein folding model.
Topics: Protein Unfolding; Humans; Membrane Proteins; Aquaporin 1; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Models, Molecular; Protein Folding; Kinetics; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 38758787
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm7907 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024The changes of physicochemical, structural and functional properties and the lysinoalanine (LAL) formation during the unfolding and refolding of black soldier fly larvae...
Changes in physicochemical, structural and functional properties, and lysinoalanine formation during the unfolding and refolding of pH-shifted black soldier fly larvae albumin.
The changes of physicochemical, structural and functional properties and the lysinoalanine (LAL) formation during the unfolding and refolding of black soldier fly larvae albumin (BSFLA) induced by acid/alkaline pH shift were explored. The results showed that acid/alkaline conditions induced unfolding of BSFLA structure, but also accompanied by the formation of some large aggregates due to the hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bonds. Compared with control or pH shift, pH shift treatment significantly increased the electrostatic repulsion, surface hydrophobicity, free sulfhydryl group, and deamidation reactions, but reduced the fluorescence intensity of BSFLA, and these change in protein conformation contributed to increase in solubility, emulsion activity, and emulsion stability. But the content of LAL in BSFLA was increased by 93.39 % by pH shift treatment. In addition, pH shift modified BSFLA tended to form β-sheet structure through unfolding and refolding, resulting in the formation of aggregates with larger particle sizes, and reducing the solubility and the LAL content by 7.93 % and 65.53 %, respectively. SDS-PAGE profile showed that pH shifting did not cause irreversible denaturation of protein molecules. Therefore, pH-shift is good way to improve the functional properties of BSFLA, but the content of LAL should be reduced to make it better used in food.
Topics: Animals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Protein Unfolding; Lysinoalanine; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Larva; Albumins; Diptera; Solubility; Protein Refolding; Insect Proteins; Chemical Phenomena
PubMed: 38825263
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132801 -
Journal of the American Chemical Society Feb 2022Protein sequencing, as well as protein fingerprinting, has gained tremendous attention in the electrical sensing realm of solid-state nanopores and is challenging due to...
Protein sequencing, as well as protein fingerprinting, has gained tremendous attention in the electrical sensing realm of solid-state nanopores and is challenging due to fast translocations and the use of high molar electrolytes. Despite providing an appreciable signal-to-noise ratio, high electrolyte concentrations can have adverse effects on the native protein structure. Herein, we present a thorough investigation of low electrolyte sensing conditions across a broad pH and voltage range generating conductive pulses (CPs) irrespective of protein net charge. We used Cas9 as the model protein and demonstrated that unfolding is noncooperative, represented by the gradual elongation or stretching of the protein, and sensitive to both the applied voltage and pH (i.e., charge state). The magnitude of unfolding and the isoelectric point (pI) of Cas9 was found to be correlated and a critical factor in our experiments. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) was always aligned with the transit direction, whereas electrophoretic force (EPF) was either reinforcing (pH < pI) or opposing (pH > pI) the protein's movement, which led to slower translocations at higher pH values. Further exploration of higher pH values led to slowing down of protein with > 30% of the population being slower than 0.5 ms. Our results would be critical for protein sensing at very low electrolytes and to retard their translocation speed without resorting to high-bandwidth equipment.
Topics: CRISPR-Associated Protein 9; Electroosmosis; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Isoelectric Point; Nanopores; Protein Conformation; Protein Unfolding
PubMed: 35143193
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c11540 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2020The effects of airway inflammation on airway smooth muscle (ASM) are mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). In this review... (Review)
Review
The effects of airway inflammation on airway smooth muscle (ASM) are mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). In this review article, we will provide a unifying hypothesis for a homeostatic response to airway inflammation that mitigates oxidative stress and thereby provides resilience to ASM. Previous studies have shown that acute exposure to TNFα increases ASM force generation in response to muscarinic stimulation (hyper-reactivity) resulting in increased ATP consumption and increased tension cost. To meet this increased energetic demand, mitochondrial O consumption and oxidative phosphorylation increases but at the cost of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (oxidative stress). TNFα-induced oxidative stress results in the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria of ASM. In the ER, TNFα selectively phosphorylates inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (pIRE1α) triggering downstream splicing of the transcription factor X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1s); thus, activating the pIRE1α/XBP1s ER stress pathway. Protein unfolding in mitochondria also triggers an unfolded protein response (UPR). In our conceptual framework, we hypothesize that activation of these pathways is homeostatically directed towards mitochondrial remodeling via an increase in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) expression, which in turn triggers: (1) mitochondrial fragmentation (increased dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1) and reduced mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) expression) and mitophagy (activation of the Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin mitophagy pathway) to improve mitochondrial quality; (2) reduced Mfn2 also results in a disruption of mitochondrial tethering to the ER and reduced mitochondrial Ca influx; and (3) mitochondrial biogenesis and increased mitochondrial volume density. The homeostatic remodeling of mitochondria results in more efficient O consumption and oxidative phosphorylation and reduced ROS formation by individual mitochondrion, while still meeting the increased ATP demand. Thus, the energetic load of hyper-reactivity is shared across the mitochondrial pool within ASM cells.
Topics: Animals; Homeostasis; Humans; Inflammation; Mitochondria; Muscle, Smooth; Organelle Biogenesis; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen Consumption; Protein Unfolding; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Unfolded Protein Response
PubMed: 33396378
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010363 -
Biochemistry Aug 2020The properties of enzymes packaged within the coat protein shell of virus-like particles (VLPs) were studied to provide a comprehensive assessment of such factors. Such...
The properties of enzymes packaged within the coat protein shell of virus-like particles (VLPs) were studied to provide a comprehensive assessment of such factors. Such entrainment did not seem to perturb enzyme function, but it did significantly enhance enzyme stability against several denaturing stimuli such as heat, organic solvents, and chaotropic agents. This improvement in performance was found to be general and independent of the number of independent subunits required and of the number of catalytically active enzymes packaged. Packaged enzymes were found by measurements of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence to retain some of their native folded structure even longer than their catalytic activity, suggesting that protein folding is a significant component of the observed catalytic benefits. While we are unable to distinguish between kinetic and thermodynamic effects - including inhibition of enzyme unfolding, acceleration of refolding, and biasing of folding equilibria - VLP packaging appears to represent a useful general strategy for the stabilization of enzymes that operate on diffusible substrates and products.
Topics: Biocatalysis; Enzyme Stability; Enzymes; Leviviridae; Protein Unfolding; Solvents; Virion
PubMed: 32786888
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00435 -
ACS Nano Jul 2022Globular folded proteins are versatile nanoscale building blocks to create biomaterials with mechanical robustness and inherent biological functionality due to their...
Globular folded proteins are versatile nanoscale building blocks to create biomaterials with mechanical robustness and inherent biological functionality due to their specific and well-defined folded structures. Modulating the nanoscale unfolding of protein building blocks during network formation ( protein unfolding) provides potent opportunities to control the protein network structure and mechanics. Here, we control protein unfolding during the formation of hydrogels constructed from chemically cross-linked maltose binding protein using ligand binding and the addition of cosolutes to modulate protein kinetic and thermodynamic stability. Bulk shear rheology characterizes the storage moduli of the bound and unbound protein hydrogels and reveals a correlation between network rigidity, characterized as an increase in the storage modulus, and protein thermodynamic stability. Furthermore, analysis of the network relaxation behavior identifies a crossover from an unfolding dominated regime to an entanglement dominated regime. Control of protein unfolding and entanglement provides an important route to finely tune the architecture, mechanics, and dynamic relaxation of protein hydrogels. Such predictive control will be advantageous for future smart biomaterials for applications which require responsive and dynamic modulation of mechanical properties and biological function.
Topics: Hydrogels; Biocompatible Materials; Rheology; Proteins; Protein Unfolding
PubMed: 35731007
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02369 -
Analytica Chimica Acta Feb 2023Unclear issues in protein studies include but not limited to the stability and denaturation mechanism in the presence of denaturants. Herein, we report a dynamic...
Unclear issues in protein studies include but not limited to the stability and denaturation mechanism in the presence of denaturants. Herein, we report a dynamic monitoring approach based on nanopore single-molecule biosensor, which can detect the protein's folding and unfolding transitions by recording a nanopore ionic current. When gradually increasing the concentration of denaturant guanidine hydrochloride (GdmCl), sensitive responses were observed with lysozyme unfolding. The emergence of the featured biphasic-pulse demonstrated the existence of a stable intermediate. It was the first time to experimentally confirm the dynamic equilibrium between the intermediate and the native states at single molecule level, therefore consolidating the standpoint of lysozyme denaturation process following the three-state model. Additionally, we got more insights into the conformation about the intermediate as globular-like structure, larger gyration radius, and enhanced positive charge density. We considered that the manner of denaturant toward lysozyme adopts the "direct" model based on stronger electrostatic and van der Waals forces. Nanopore biosensor exhibited excellent sensitivity with a low detection concentration of 280 pM and reproducibility in analysing the folding intermediate of lysozyme.
Topics: Protein Folding; Protein Denaturation; Muramidase; Nanopores; Reproducibility of Results; Guanidine; Kinetics; Thermodynamics; Protein Conformation
PubMed: 36697181
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.340830 -
The Journal of Biological Chemistry Aug 2020The health of a cell depends on accurate translation and proper protein folding, whereas misfolding can lead to aggregation and disease. The first opportunity for a...
The health of a cell depends on accurate translation and proper protein folding, whereas misfolding can lead to aggregation and disease. The first opportunity for a protein to fold occurs during translation, when the ribosome and surrounding environment can affect the nascent chain energy landscape. However, quantifying these environmental effects is challenging because ribosomal proteins and rRNA preclude most spectroscopic measurements of protein energetics. Here, we have applied two gel-based approaches, pulse proteolysis and force-profile analysis, to probe the folding and unfolding pathways of RNase H (RNH) nascent chains stalled on the prokaryotic ribosome We found that ribosome-stalled RNH has an increased unfolding rate compared with free RNH. Because protein stability is related to the ratio of the unfolding and folding rates, this increase completely accounts for the observed change in protein stability and indicates that the folding rate is unchanged. Using arrest peptide-based force-profile analysis, we assayed the force generated during the folding of RNH on the ribosome. Surprisingly, we found that population of the RNH folding intermediate is required to generate sufficient force to release a stall induced by the SecM stalling sequence and that readthrough of SecM directly correlates with the stability of the RNH folding intermediate. Together, these results imply that the folding pathway of RNH is unchanged on the ribosome. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the ribosome promotes RNH unfolding while the nascent chain is proximal to the ribosome, which may limit the deleterious effects of RNH misfolding and assist in folding fidelity.
Topics: Enzyme Stability; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Proteins; Protein Folding; Protein Unfolding; Proteolysis; Ribonuclease H; Ribosomes
PubMed: 32527724
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA120.013909 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Oct 2019Although many proteins possess a distinct folded structure lying at a minimum in a funneled free energy landscape, thermal energy causes any protein to continuously...
Although many proteins possess a distinct folded structure lying at a minimum in a funneled free energy landscape, thermal energy causes any protein to continuously access lowly populated excited states. The existence of excited states is an integral part of biological function. Although transitions into the excited states may lead to protein misfolding and aggregation, little structural information is currently available for them. Here, we show how NMR spectroscopy, coupled with pressure perturbation, brings these elusive species to light. As pressure acts to favor states with lower partial molar volume, NMR follows the ensuing change in the equilibrium spectroscopically, with residue-specific resolution. For T4 lysozyme L99A, relaxation dispersion NMR was used to follow the increase in population of a previously identified "invisible" folded state with pressure, as this is driven by the reduction in cavity volume by the flipping-in of a surface aromatic group. Furthermore, multiple partly disordered excited states were detected at equilibrium using pressure-dependent H/D exchange NMR spectroscopy. Here, unfolding reduced partial molar volume by the removal of empty internal cavities and packing imperfections through subglobal and global unfolding. A close correspondence was found for the distinct pressure sensitivities of various parts of the protein and the amount of internal cavity volume that was lost in each unfolding event. The free energies and populations of excited states allowed us to determine the energetic penalty of empty internal protein cavities to be 36 cal⋅Å.
Topics: Bacteriophage T4; Muramidase; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Pressure; Protein Conformation; Protein Denaturation; Protein Folding; Proteins
PubMed: 31570587
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911181116