Do protein–lipid interactions determine the recognition of transmembrane helices at the ER translocon?

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 1012-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.H. White ◽  
G. von Heijne
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Transmembrane Segment ◽  
Hydrophobicity Scale ◽  
Model Protein ◽  
Target Membrane ◽  
Correct Target ◽  
Molecular Code

Membrane-protein integration, folding and assembly processes in vivo depend on complex targeting, translocation, chaperoning, and sorting machineries that somehow read the ‘molecular code’ built into the nascent polypeptide, ultimately producing a properly folded protein integrated into the correct target membrane. Although the main molecular constituents and the basic mechanistic principles of many of these machines are known in outline, the codes remain poorly defined and there is little quantitative information on how protein sequence affects the final structure of membrane proteins. By carefully designing model protein constructs, we have derived the first true biological hydrophobicity scale and have been able to get a first impression of how the position of a given type of residue within a transmembrane segment affects its ability to promote membrane insertion.

scholarly journals Cooperative folding of a polytopic α-helical membrane protein involves a compact N-terminal nucleus and nonnative loops

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (26) ◽  
pp. 7978-7983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Paslawski ◽  
Ove K. Lillelund ◽  
Julie Veje Kristensen ◽  
Nicholas P. Schafer ◽  
Rosanna P. Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transition State ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Level Structure ◽  
State Level ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Rhomboid Protease ◽  
Denatured State ◽  
Conformational Rearrangements

Despite the ubiquity of helical membrane proteins in nature and their pharmacological importance, the mechanisms guiding their folding remain unclear. We performed kinetic folding and unfolding experiments on 69 mutants (engineered every 2–3 residues throughout the 178-residue transmembrane domain) of GlpG, a membrane-embedded rhomboid protease from Escherichia coli. The only clustering of significantly positive ϕ-values occurs at the cytosolic termini of transmembrane helices 1 and 2, which we identify as a compact nucleus. The three loops flanking these helices show a preponderance of negative ϕ-values, which are sometimes taken to be indicative of nonnative interactions in the transition state. Mutations in transmembrane helices 3–6 yielded predominantly ϕ-values near zero, indicating that this part of the protein has denatured-state–level structure in the transition state. We propose that loops 1–3 undergo conformational rearrangements to position the folding nucleus correctly, which then drives folding of the rest of the domain. A compact N-terminal nucleus is consistent with the vectorial nature of cotranslational membrane insertion found in vivo. The origin of the interactions in the transition state that lead to a large number of negative ϕ-values remains to be elucidated.

scholarly journals Interhelical H-Bonds Modulate the Activity of a Polytopic Transmembrane Kinase

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 938
Author(s):  
Juan Cruz Almada ◽  
Ana Bortolotti ◽  
Jean Marie Ruysschaert ◽  
Diego de Mendoza ◽  
María Eugenia Inda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Histidine Kinase ◽  
Adaptive Response ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Lipid Homeostasis ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Transmembrane Region

DesK is a Histidine Kinase that allows Bacillus subtilis to maintain lipid homeostasis in response to changes in the environment. It is located in the membrane, and has five transmembrane helices and a cytoplasmic catalytic domain. The transmembrane region triggers the phosphorylation of the catalytic domain as soon as the membrane lipids rigidify. In this research, we study how transmembrane inter-helical interactions contribute to signal transmission; we designed a co-expression system that allows studying in vivo interactions between transmembrane helices. By Alanine-replacements, we identified a group of polar uncharged residues, whose side chains contain hydrogen-bond donors or acceptors, which are required for the interaction with other DesK transmembrane helices; a particular array of H-bond- residues plays a key role in signaling, transmitting information detected at the membrane level into the cell to finally trigger an adaptive response.

scholarly journals Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus X4-like accessory protein

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olanrewaju Ayodeji Durojaye ◽  
Nkwachukwu Oziamara Okoro ◽  
Arome Solomon Odiba
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Development ◽  
Protein A ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
A Value ◽  
Model Protein ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Global Threat

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is currently a global threat to health and economies. Therapeutics and vaccines are in rapid development; however, none of these therapeutics are considered as absolute cure, and the potential to mutate makes it necessary to find therapeutics that target a highly conserved regions of the viral structure. Results In this study, we characterized an essential but poorly understood coronavirus accessory X4 protein, a core and stable component of the SARS-CoV family. Sequence analysis shows a conserved ~ 90% identity between the SARS-CoV-2 and previously characterized X4 protein in the database. QMEAN Z score of the model protein shows a value of around 0.5, within the acceptable range 0–1. A MolProbity score of 2.96 was obtained for the model protein and indicates a good quality model. The model has Ramachandran values of φ = − 57o and ψ = − 47o for α-helices and values of φ = − 130o and ψ = + 140o for twisted sheets. Conclusions The protein data obtained from this study provides robust information for further in vitro and in vivo experiment, targeted at devising therapeutics against the virus. Phylogenetic analysis further supports previous evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 is positioned with the SL-CoVZC45, BtRs-BetaCoV/YN2018B and the RS4231 Bat SARS-like corona viruses.

scholarly journals Spatial receptive field properties of rat retinal ganglion cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 403-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
WALTER F. HEINE ◽  
CHRISTOPHER L. PASSAGLIA
Keyword(s):  
Receptive Field ◽  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
X And Y Cells ◽  
Y Cells

AbstractThe rat is a popular animal model for vision research, yet there is little quantitative information about the physiological properties of the cells that provide its brain with visual input, the retinal ganglion cells. It is not clear whether rats even possess the full complement of ganglion cell types found in other mammals. Since such information is important for evaluating rodent models of visual disease and elucidating the function of homologous and heterologous cells in different animals, we recorded from rat ganglion cells in vivo and systematically measured their spatial receptive field (RF) properties using spot, annulus, and grating patterns. Most of the recorded cells bore likeness to cat X and Y cells, exhibiting brisk responses, center-surround RFs, and linear or nonlinear spatial summation. The others resembled various types of mammalian W cell, including local-edge-detector cells, suppressed-by-contrast cells, and an unusual type with an ON–OFF surround. They generally exhibited sluggish responses, larger RFs, and lower responsiveness. The peak responsivity of brisk-nonlinear (Y-type) cells was around twice that of brisk-linear (X-type) cells and several fold that of sluggish cells. The RF size of brisk-linear and brisk-nonlinear cells was indistinguishable, with average center and surround diameters of 5.6 ± 1.3 and 26.4 ± 11.3 deg, respectively. In contrast, the center diameter of recorded sluggish cells averaged 12.8 ± 7.9 deg. The homogeneous RF size of rat brisk cells is unlike that of cat X and Y cells, and its implication regarding the putative roles of these two ganglion cell types in visual signaling is discussed.

scholarly journals In vivo 13C MRS in the mouse brain at 14.1 Tesla and metabolic flux quantification under infusion of [1,6-13C2]glucose

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 1701-1714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Lai ◽  
Bernard Lanz ◽  
Carole Poitry-Yamate ◽  
Jackeline F Romero ◽  
Corina M Berset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Brain ◽  
Metabolic Flux ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Glutamine Metabolism ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Flux Analysis ◽  
Carboxylase Activity

In vivo 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) enables the investigation of cerebral metabolic compartmentation while, e.g. infusing 13C-labeled glucose. Metabolic flux analysis of 13C turnover previously yielded quantitative information of glutamate and glutamine metabolism in humans and rats, while the application to in vivo mouse brain remains exceedingly challenging. In the present study, 13C direct detection at 14.1 T provided highly resolved in vivo spectra of the mouse brain while infusing [1,6-13C2]glucose for up to 5 h. 13C incorporation to glutamate and glutamine C4, C3, and C2 and aspartate C3 were detected dynamically and fitted to a two-compartment model: flux estimation of neuron-glial metabolism included tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) flux in astrocytes (Vg = 0.16 ± 0.03 µmol/g/min) and neurons (VTCAn = 0.56 ± 0.03 µmol/g/min), pyruvate carboxylase activity (VPC = 0.041 ± 0.003 µmol/g/min) and neurotransmission rate (VNT = 0.084 ± 0.008 µmol/g/min), resulting in a cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) of 0.38 ± 0.02 µmol/g/min, in excellent agreement with that determined with concomitant 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG PET).We conclude that modeling of neuron-glial metabolism in vivo is accessible in the mouse brain from 13C direct detection with an unprecedented spatial resolution under [1,6-13C2]glucose infusion.

Application of middle-down approach in quantitation and catabolite identification of protein by LC–high-resolution mass spectrometry

Bioanalysis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 465-479
Author(s):  
Lijuan Kang ◽  
Shengsheng Xu ◽  
Yongle Pang ◽  
Tom Kirchner ◽  
Yue-mei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Intact Protein ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Assay Performance ◽  
Model Protein ◽  
Bioanalytical Assay ◽  
Signal Improvement

Aim: To further enhance the detection sensitivity and increase resolving power of top-down intact protein bioanalysis, middle-down approach was explored. Materials & methods: An monoclonal antibody (mAb) was used as a model protein to evaluate quantitative bioanalytical assay performance and a disulfide linked dimer protein was investigated for its pharmacokinetics properties and catabolism in vivo by middle-down approach. Results & Conclusion: For quantitation of the mAb, different subunits generated by middle-down approach provided different level of signal improvement in biological samples with Lc and half Fc giving five-times better sensitivity than intact mAb. For the dimer protein, middle-down analysis by reduction enabled effective differentiation of the unchanged protein and its oxidized form, and clearly elucidated their respective proteolytic catabolites.

scholarly journals A Vacuolar v–t-SNARE Complex, the Predominant Form In Vivo and on Isolated Vacuoles, Is Disassembled and Activated for Docking and Fusion

1998 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Ungermann ◽  
Benjamin J. Nichols ◽  
Hugh R.B. Pelham ◽  
William Wickner
Keyword(s):  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Functional Aspect ◽  
Independent Function ◽  
Attachment Protein ◽  
Vacuole Fusion ◽  
Predominant Form ◽  
Target Membrane

Homotypic vacuole fusion in yeast requires Sec18p (N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive fusion protein [NSF]), Sec17p (soluble NSF attachment protein [α-SNAP]), and typical vesicle (v) and target membrane (t) SNAP receptors (SNAREs). We now report that vacuolar v- and t-SNAREs are mainly found with Sec17p as v–t-SNARE complexes in vivo and on purified vacuoles rather than only transiently forming such complexes during docking, and disrupting them upon fusion. In the priming reaction, Sec18p and ATP dissociate this v–t-SNARE complex, accompanied by the release of Sec17p. SNARE complex structure governs each functional aspect of priming, as the v-SNARE regulates the rate of Sec17p release and, in turn, Sec17p-dependent SNARE complex disassembly is required for independent function of the two SNAREs. Sec17p physically and functionally interacts largely with the t-SNARE. (a) Antibodies to the t-SNARE, but not the v-SNARE, block Sec17p release. (b) Sec17p is associated with the t-SNARE in the absence of v-SNARE, but is not bound to the v-SNARE without t-SNARE. (c) Vacuoles with t-SNARE but no v-SNARE still require Sec17p/Sec18p priming, whereas their fusion partners with v-SNARE but no t-SNARE do not. Sec18p thus acts, upon ATP hydrolysis, to disassemble the v–t-SNARE complex, prime the t-SNARE, and release the Sec17p to allow SNARE participation in docking and fusion. These studies suggest that the analogous ATP-dependent disassembly of the 20-S complex of NSF, α-SNAP, and v- and t-SNAREs, which has been studied in detergent extracts, corresponds to the priming of SNAREs for docking rather than to the fusion of docked membranes.

scholarly journals The single transmembrane segment of gp210 is sufficient for sorting to the pore membrane domain of the nuclear envelope.

1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1441-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
R W Wozniak ◽  
G Blobel
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Transmembrane Segment ◽  
Membrane Domain ◽  
3T3 Cells ◽  
Type Mutant

The glycoprotein gp210 is located in the "pore membrane," a specialized domain of the nuclear envelope to which the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is anchored. gp210 contains a large cisternal domain, a single transmembrane segment (TM), and a COOH-terminal, 58-amino acid residue cytoplasmic tail (CT) (Wozniak, R. W., E. Bartnik, and G. Blobel. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 108:2083-2092; Greber, U. F., A. Senior, and L. Gerace. 1990. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 9:1495-1502). To locate determinants for sorting of gp210 to the pore membrane, we constructed various cDNAs coding for wild-type, mutant, and chimeric gp210, and monitored localization of the expressed protein in 3T3 cells by immunofluorescence microscopy using appropriate antibodies. The large cisternal domain of gp210 (95% of its mass) did not reveal any sorting determinants. Surprisingly, the TM of gp210 is sufficient for sorting to the pore membrane. The CT also contains a sorting determinant, but it is weaker than that of the TM. We propose specific lateral association of the transmembrane helices of two proteins to yield either a gp210 homodimer or a heterodimer of gp210 and another protein. The cytoplasmically oriented tails of these dimers may bind cooperatively to the adjacent NPCs. In addition, we demonstrate that gp210 co-localizes with cytoplasmically dispersed nucleoporins, suggesting a cytoplasmic association of these components.

scholarly journals Regulated Targeting of BAX to Mitochondria

1998 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ing Swie Goping ◽  
Atan Gross ◽  
Josée N. Lavoie ◽  
Mai Nguyen ◽  
Ronald Jemmerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Proapoptotic Protein ◽  
Signal Anchor ◽  
Discrete Domains

The proapoptotic protein BAX contains a single predicted transmembrane domain at its COOH terminus. In unstimulated cells, BAX is located in the cytosol and in peripheral association with intracellular membranes including mitochondria, but inserts into mitochondrial membranes after a death signal. This failure to insert into mitochondrial membrane in the absence of a death signal correlates with repression of the transmembrane signal-anchor function of BAX by the NH2-terminal domain. Targeting can be instated by deleting the domain or by replacing the BAX transmembrane segment with that of BCL-2. In stimulated cells, the contribution of the NH2 terminus of BAX correlates with further exposure of this domain after membrane insertion of the protein. The peptidyl caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk partly blocks the stimulated mitochondrial membrane insertion of BAX in vivo, which is consistent with the ability of apoptotic cell extracts to support mitochondrial targeting of BAX in vitro, dependent on activation of caspase(s). Taken together, our results suggest that regulated targeting of BAX to mitochondria in response to a death signal is mediated by discrete domains within the BAX polypeptide. The contribution of one or more caspases may reflect an initiation and/or amplification of this regulated targeting.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of membrane protein biogenesis

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C1161-C1161
Author(s):  
Irmgard Sinning
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Signal Recognition Particle ◽  
Signal Recognition ◽  
Protein Biogenesis ◽  
Cargo Proteins ◽  
Target Membrane ◽  
Hydrophobic Nature ◽  
Correct Target ◽  
Srp Rna

More than 25% of the cellular proteome comprise membrane proteins that have to be inserted into the correct target membrane. Most membrane proteins are delivered to the membrane by the signal recognition particle (SRP) pathway which relies on the recognition of an N-terminal signal sequence. In contrast to this co-translational mechanism, which avoids problems due to the hydrophobic nature of the cargo proteins, tail-anchored (TA) membrane proteins utilize a post-translational mechanism for membrane insertion – the GET pathway (guided entry of tail-anchored membrane proteins). The SRP and GET pathways are both regulated by GTP and ATP binding proteins of the SIMIBI family. However, in the SRP pathway the SRP RNA plays a unique regulatory role. Recent insights into eukaryotic SRP will be discussed.

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