scholarly journals X-ray and cryo-EM structures of monomeric and filamentous actin-like protein MamK reveal changes associated with polymerization

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (47) ◽  
pp. 13396-13401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Löwe ◽  
Shaoda He ◽  
Sjors H. W. Scheres ◽  
Christos G. Savva
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Magnetic Moments ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Filamentous Actin ◽  
Nucleotide Hydrolysis ◽  
Filamentous Form ◽  
Domain Movement ◽  
Density Map ◽  
Magnetospirillum Magneticum

Magnetotactic bacteria produce iron-rich magnetic nanoparticles that are enclosed by membrane invaginations to form magnetosomes so they are able to sense and act upon Earth’s magnetic field. In Magnetospirillum and other magnetotactic bacteria, to combine their magnetic moments, magnetosomes align along filaments formed by a bacterial actin homolog, MamK. Here, we present the crystal structure of a nonpolymerizing mutant of MamK from Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 at 1.8-Å resolution, revealing its close similarity to actin and MreB. The crystals contain AMPPNP-bound monomeric MamK in two different conformations. To investigate conformational changes associated with polymerization, we used unmodified MamK protein and cryo-EM with helical 3D reconstruction in RELION to obtain a density map and a fully refined atomic model of MamK in filamentous form at 3.6-Å resolution. The filament is parallel (polar) double-helical, with a rise of 52.2 Å and a twist of 23.8°. As shown previously and unusually for actin-like filaments, the MamK subunits from each of the two strands are juxtaposed, creating an additional twofold axis along the filament. Compared with monomeric MamK, ADP-bound MamK in the filament undergoes a conformational change, rotating domains I and II against each other to further close the interdomain cleft between subdomains IB and IIB. The domain movement causes several loops to close around the nucleotide-binding pocket. Glu-143, a key residue for catalysis coordinating the magnesium ion, moves closer, presumably switching nucleotide hydrolysis upon polymerization—one of the hallmarks of cytomotive filaments of the actin type.

scholarly journals Inhibition of acanthamoeba actomyosin-II ATPase activity and mechanochemical function by specific monoclonal antibodies.

1984 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 1024-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
D P Kiehart ◽  
T D Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Polyclonal Antibodies ◽  
Myosin Ii ◽  
Antigenic Site ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Filamentous Form ◽  
Antibody Effects

Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that bind to myosin-II were tested for their ability to inhibit myosin ATPase activity, actomyosin ATPase activity, and contraction of cytoplasmic extracts. Numerous antibodies specifically inhibit the actin activated Mg++-ATPase activity of myosin-II in a dose-dependent fashion, but none blocked the ATPase activity of myosin alone. Control antibodies that do not bind to myosin-II and several specific antibodies that do bind have no effect on the actomyosin-II ATPase activity. In most cases, the saturation of a single antigenic site on the myosin-II heavy chain is sufficient for maximal inhibition of function. Numerous monoclonal antibodies also block the contraction of gelled extracts of Acanthamoeba cytoplasm. No polyclonal antibodies tested inhibited ATPase activity or gel contraction. As expected, most antibodies that block actin-activated ATPase activity also block gel contraction. Exceptions were three antibodies M2.2, -15, and -17, that appear to uncouple the ATPase activity from gel contraction: they block gel contraction without influencing ATPase activity. The mechanisms of inhibition of myosin function depends on the location of the antibody-binding sites. Those inhibitory antibodies that bind to the myosin-II heads presumably block actin binding or essential conformational changes in the myosin heads. A subset of the antibodies that bind to the proximal end of the myosin-II tail inhibit actomyosin-II ATPase activity and gel contraction. Although this part of the molecule is presumably some distance from the ATP and actin-binding sites, these antibody effects suggest that structural domains in this region are directly involved with or coupled to catalysis and energy transduction. A subset of the antibodies that bind to the tip of the myosin-II tail appear to inhibit ATPase activity and contraction through their inhibition of filament formation. They provide strong evidence for a substantial enhancement of the ATPase activity of myosin molecules in filamentous form and suggest that the myosin filaments may be required for cell motility.

scholarly journals Magnetotaxis as a Means for Nanofabrication

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 1450008
Author(s):  
Isaac Macwan ◽  
Zihe Zhao ◽  
Omar Sobh ◽  
Jinnque Rho ◽  
Ausif Mahmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Semiconductor Manufacturing ◽  
Magnetic Field Intensity ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Semiconductor Substrate ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Magnetospirillum Magneticum ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), discovered in early 1970s contain single-domain crystals of magnetite ( Fe 3 O 4) called magnetosomes that tend to form a chain like structure from the proximal to the distal pole along the long axis of the cell. The ability of these bacteria to sense the magnetic field for displacement, also called magnetotaxis, arises from the magnetic dipole moment of this chain of magnetosomes. In aquatic habitats, these organisms sense the geomagnetic field and traverse the oxic-anoxic interface for optimal oxygen concentration along the field lines. Here we report an elegant use of MTB where magnetotaxis of Magnetospirillum magneticum (classified as AMB-1) could be utilized for controlled navigation over a semiconductor substrate for selective deposition. We examined 50mm long coils made out of 18AWG and 20AWG copper conductors having diameters of 5mm, 10mm and 20mm for magnetic field intensity and heat generation. Based on the COMSOL simulations and experimental data, it is recognized that a compound semiconductor manufacturing technology involving bacterial carriers and carbon-based materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes would be a desirable choice in the future.

scholarly journals How to build a water-splitting machine: structural insights into photosystem II assembly

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jure Zabret ◽  
Stefan Bohn ◽  
Sandra Schuller ◽  
Oliver Arnolds ◽  
Madeline Möller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photosystem Ii ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Heme Iron ◽  
Structural Motif ◽  
Acceptor Side ◽  
Non Heme Iron ◽  
Assembly Intermediate ◽  
Stepwise Assembly

Abstract Biogenesis of photosystem II (PSII), nature’s water splitting catalyst, is assisted by auxiliary proteins that form transient complexes with PSII components to facilitate stepwise assembly events. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we solved the structure of such a PSII assembly intermediate with 2.94 Å resolution. It contains three assembly factors (Psb27, Psb28, Psb34) and provides detailed insights into their molecular function. Binding of Psb28 induces large conformational changes at the PSII acceptor side, which distort the binding pocket of the mobile quinone (QB) and replace bicarbonate with glutamate as a ligand of the non-heme iron, a structural motif found in reaction centers of non-oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria. These results reveal novel mechanisms that protect PSII from damage during biogenesis until water splitting is activated. Our structure further demonstrates how the PSII active site is prepared for the incorporation of the Mn4CaO5 cluster, which performs the unique water splitting reaction.

scholarly journals Structure of the Lifeact–F-actin complex

PLoS Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. e3000925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Belyy ◽  
Felipe Merino ◽  
Oleg Sitsel ◽  
Stefan Raunser
Keyword(s):  
Hypervariable Region ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Filamentous Actin ◽  
Activity Measurements ◽  
High Resolution Structure ◽  
D Loop ◽  
Hydrophobic Binding

Lifeact is a short actin-binding peptide that is used to visualize filamentous actin (F-actin) structures in live eukaryotic cells using fluorescence microscopy. However, this popular probe has been shown to alter cellular morphology by affecting the structure of the cytoskeleton. The molecular basis for such artefacts is poorly understood. Here, we determined the high-resolution structure of the Lifeact–F-actin complex using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM). The structure reveals that Lifeact interacts with a hydrophobic binding pocket on F-actin and stretches over 2 adjacent actin subunits, stabilizing the DNase I-binding loop (D-loop) of actin in the closed conformation. Interestingly, the hydrophobic binding site is also used by actin-binding proteins, such as cofilin and myosin and actin-binding toxins, such as the hypervariable region of TccC3 (TccC3HVR) from Photorhabdus luminescens and ExoY from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In vitro binding assays and activity measurements demonstrate that Lifeact indeed competes with these proteins, providing an explanation for the altering effects of Lifeact on cell morphology in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate that the affinity of Lifeact to F-actin can be increased by introducing mutations into the peptide, laying the foundation for designing improved actin probes for live cell imaging.

scholarly journals Streptavidin/biotin: Tethering geometry defines unbinding mechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (13) ◽  
pp. eaay5999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen M. Sedlak ◽  
Leonard C. Schendel ◽  
Hermann E. Gaub ◽  
Rafael C. Bernardi
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Energy Barrier ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Entire System ◽  
Shear Forces ◽  
Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy ◽  
Force Loading ◽  
Applied Forces

Macromolecules tend to respond to applied forces in many different ways. Chemistry at high shear forces can be intriguing, with relatively soft bonds becoming very stiff in specific force-loading geometries. Largely used in bionanotechnology, an important case is the streptavidin (SA)/biotin interaction. Although SA’s four subunits have the same affinity, we find that the forces required to break the SA/biotin bond depend strongly on the attachment geometry. With AFM-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), we measured unbinding forces of biotin from different SA subunits to range from 100 to more than 400 pN. Using a wide-sampling approach, we carried out hundreds of all-atom steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations for the entire system, including molecular linkers. Our strategy revealed the molecular mechanism that causes a fourfold difference in mechanical stability: Certain force-loading geometries induce conformational changes in SA’s binding pocket lowering the energy barrier, which biotin has to overcome to escape the pocket.

scholarly journals Cryo-EM structure of phosphodiesterase 6 reveals insights into the allosteric regulation of type I phosphodiesterases

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. eaav4322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahil Gulati ◽  
Krzysztof Palczewski ◽  
Andreas Engel ◽  
Henning Stahlberg ◽  
Lubomir Kovacik
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Second Messengers ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Type I ◽  
Regulatory Domains ◽  
Catalytic Domains ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Density Map ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) work in conjunction with adenylate/guanylate cyclases to regulate the key second messengers of G protein–coupled receptor signaling. Previous attempts to determine the full-length structure of PDE family members at high-resolution have been hindered by structural flexibility, especially in their linker regions and N- and C-terminal ends. Therefore, most structure-activity relationship studies have so far focused on truncated and conserved catalytic domains rather than the regulatory domains that allosterically govern the activity of most PDEs. Here, we used single-particle cryo–electron microscopy to determine the structure of the full-length PDE6αβ2γ complex. The final density map resolved at 3.4 Å reveals several previously unseen structural features, including a coiled N-terminal domain and the interface of PDE6γ subunits with the PDE6αβ heterodimer. Comparison of the PDE6αβ2γ complex with the closed state of PDE2A sheds light on the conformational changes associated with the allosteric activation of type I PDEs.

scholarly journals Characterization of the High-Affinity Drug Ligand Binding Site of Mouse Recombinant TSPO

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soria Iatmanen-Harbi ◽  
lucile Senicourt ◽  
Vassilios Papadopoulos ◽  
Olivier Lequin ◽  
Jean-Jacques Lacapere
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Protoporphyrin Ix ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Translocator Protein ◽  
Binding Affinities ◽  
Ligand Selectivity ◽  
High Affinity

The optimization of translocator protein (TSPO) ligands for Positron Emission Tomography as well as for the modulation of neurosteroids is a critical necessity for the development of TSPO-based diagnostics and therapeutics of neuropsychiatrics and neurodegenerative disorders. Structural hints on the interaction site and ligand binding mechanism are essential for the development of efficient TSPO ligands. Recently published atomic structures of recombinant mammalian and bacterial TSPO1, bound with either the high-affinity drug ligand PK 11195 or protoporphyrin IX, have revealed the membrane protein topology and the ligand binding pocket. The ligand is surrounded by amino acids from the five transmembrane helices as well as the cytosolic loops. However, the precise mechanism of ligand binding remains unknown. Previous biochemical studies had suggested that ligand selectivity and binding was governed by these loops. We performed site-directed mutagenesis to further test this hypothesis and measured the binding affinities. We show that aromatic residues (Y34 and F100) from the cytosolic loops contribute to PK 11195 access to its binding site. Limited proteolytic digestion, circular dichroism and solution two-dimensional (2-D) NMR using selective amino acid labelling provide information on the intramolecular flexibility and conformational changes in the TSPO structure upon PK 11195 binding. We also discuss the differences in the PK 11195 binding affinities and the primary structure between TSPO (TSPO1) and its paralogous gene product TSPO2.

scholarly journals Magnetotactic Bacteria Accumulate a Large Pool of Iron Distinct from Their Magnetite Crystals

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Amor ◽  
Alejandro Ceballos ◽  
Juan Wan ◽  
Christian P. Simon ◽  
Allegra T. Aron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Iron Speciation ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Large Pool ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Complex Picture ◽  
Magnetospirillum Magneticum

ABSTRACT Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are ubiquitous aquatic microorganisms that form intracellular nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) in a genetically controlled manner. Magnetite and greigite synthesis requires MTB to transport a large amount of iron from the environment. Most intracellular iron was proposed to be contained within the crystals. However, recent mass spectrometry studies suggest that MTB may contain a large amount of iron that is not precipitated in crystals. Here, we attempted to resolve these discrepancies by performing chemical and magnetic assays to quantify the different iron pools in the magnetite-forming strain Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1, as well as in mutant strains showing defects in crystal precipitation, cultivated at various iron concentrations. All results show that magnetite represents at most 30% of the total intracellular iron under our experimental conditions and even less in the mutant strains. We further examined the iron speciation and subcellular localization in AMB-1 using the fluorescent indicator FIP-1, which was designed for the detection of labile Fe(II). Staining with this probe suggests that unmineralized reduced iron is found in the cytoplasm and associated with magnetosomes. Our results demonstrate that, under our experimental conditions, AMB-1 is able to accumulate a large pool of iron distinct from magnetite. Finally, we discuss the biochemical and geochemical implications of these results. IMPORTANCE Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) produce iron-based intracellular magnetic crystals. They represent a model system for studying iron homeostasis and biomineralization in microorganisms. MTB sequester a large amount of iron in their crystals and have thus been proposed to significantly impact the iron biogeochemical cycle. Several studies proposed that MTB could also accumulate iron in a reservoir distinct from their crystals. Here, we present a chemical and magnetic methodology for quantifying the iron pools in the magnetotactic strain AMB-1. Results showed that most iron is not contained in crystals. We then adapted protocols for the fluorescent Fe(II) detection in bacteria and showed that iron could be detected outside crystals using fluorescence assays. This work suggests a more complex picture for iron homeostasis in MTB than previously thought. Because iron speciation controls its fate in the environment, our results also provide important insights into the geochemical impact of MTB.

scholarly journals Comparative Analyses of theβ-Tubulin Gene and Molecular Modeling Reveal Molecular Insight into the Colchicine Resistance in Kinetoplastids Organisms

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Luis ◽  
María Luisa Serrano ◽  
Mariana Hidalgo ◽  
Alexis Mendoza-León
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Differential Susceptibility ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Crystallographic Structure ◽  
Tubulin Gene ◽  
Colchicine Binding Site ◽  
Colchicine Resistance ◽  
Leishmania Spp

Differential susceptibility to microtubule agents has been demonstrated between mammalian cells and kinetoplastid organisms such asLeishmania spp. andTrypanosoma spp. The aims of this study were to identify and characterize the architecture of the putative colchicine binding site ofLeishmania spp. and investigate the molecular basis of colchicine resistance. We cloned and sequenced theβ-tubulin gene ofLeishmania (Viannia) guyanensisand established the theoretical 3D model of the protein, using the crystallographic structure of the bovine protein as template. We identified mutations on theLeishmania  β-tubulin gene sequences on regions related to the putative colchicine-binding pocket, which generate amino acid substitutions and changes in the topology of this region, blocking the access of colchicine. The same mutations were found in theβ-tubulin sequence of kinetoplastid organisms such asTrypanosoma cruzi,T. brucei, andT. evansi. Using molecular modelling approaches, we demonstrated that conformational changes include an elongation and torsion of anα-helix structure and displacement to the inside of the pocket of oneβ-sheet that hinders access of colchicine. We propose that kinetoplastid organisms show resistance to colchicine due to amino acids substitutions that generate structural changes in the putative colchicine-binding domain, which prevent colchicine access.

scholarly journals Conformational flexibility of adenine riboswitch aptamer in apo and bound states using NMR and an X-ray free electron laser

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 509-518
Author(s):  
Jienv Ding ◽  
Monalisa Swain ◽  
Ping Yu ◽  
Jason R. Stagno ◽  
Yun-Xing Wang
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Free Electron ◽  
Free Electron Laser ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Thermal Fluctuation ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Aptamer Domain

Abstract Riboswitches are structured cis-regulators mainly found in the untranslated regions of messenger RNA. The aptamer domain of a riboswitch serves as a sensor for its ligand, the binding of which triggers conformational changes that regulate the behavior of its expression platform. As a model system for understanding riboswitch structures and functions, the add adenine riboswitch has been studied extensively. However, there is a need for further investigation of the conformational dynamics of the aptamer in light of the recent real-time crystallographic study at room temperature (RT) using an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) and femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX). Herein, we investigate the conformational motions of the add adenine riboswitch aptamer domain, in the presence or absence of adenine, using nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation measurements and analysis of RT atomic displacement factors (B-factors). In the absence of ligand, the P1 duplex undergoes a fast exchange where the overall molecule exhibits a motion at kex ~ 319 s−1, based on imino signals. In the presence of ligand, the P1 duplex adopts a highly ordered conformation, with kex~ 83 s−1, similar to the global motion of the molecule, excluding the loops and binding pocket, at 84 s−1. The µs–ms motions in both the apo and bound states are consistent with RT B-factors. Reduced spatial atomic fluctuation, ~ 50%, in P1 upon ligand binding coincides with significantly attenuated temporal dynamic exchanges. The binding pocket is structured in the absence or presence of ligand, as evidenced by relatively low and similar RT B-factors. Therefore, despite the dramatic rearrangement of the binding pocket, those residues exhibit similar spatial thermal fluctuation before and after binding.

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