Molecular structure of an open human KATP channel

KATP channels are metabolic sensors that translate intracellular ATP/ADP balance into membrane excitability. The molecular composition of KATP includes an inward-rectifier potassium channel (Kir) and an ABC transporter–like sulfonylurea receptor (SUR). Although structures of KATP have been determined in many conformations, in all cases, the pore in Kir is closed. Here, we describe human pancreatic KATP (hKATP) structures with an open pore at 3.1- to 4.0-Å resolution using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Pore opening is associated with coordinated structural changes within the ATP-binding site and the channel gate in Kir. Conformational changes in SUR are also observed, resulting in an area reduction of contact surfaces between SUR and Kir. We also observe that pancreatic hKATP exhibits the unique (among inward-rectifier channels) property of PIP2-independent opening, which appears to be correlated with a docked cytoplasmic domain in the absence of PIP2.

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Coupling of Ca2+and voltage activation in BK channels through the αB helix/voltage sensor interface

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1908183117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (25) ◽

pp. 14512-14521

Author(s):

Yanyan Geng ◽

Zengqin Deng ◽

Guohui Zhang ◽

Gonzalo Budelli ◽

Alice Butler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structural Changes ◽

Cell Types ◽

Bk Channels ◽

Voltage Sensor ◽

Membrane Excitability ◽

Gating Currents ◽

Sensor Interface ◽

Pore Opening ◽

Helical Turn ◽

Voltage Activation

Large-conductance Ca2+and voltage-activated K+(BK) channels control membrane excitability in many cell types. BK channels are tetrameric. Each subunit is composed of a voltage sensor domain (VSD), a central pore-gate domain, and a large cytoplasmic domain (CTD) that contains the Ca2+sensors. While it is known that BK channels are activated by voltage and Ca2+, and that voltage and Ca2+activations interact, less is known about the mechanisms involved. We explore here these mechanisms by examining the gating contribution of an interface formed between the VSDs and the αB helices located at the top of the CTDs. Proline mutations in the αB helix greatly decreased voltage activation while having negligible effects on gating currents. Analysis with the Horrigan, Cui, and Aldrich model indicated a decreased coupling between voltage sensors and pore gate. Proline mutations decreased Ca2+activation for both Ca2+bowl and RCK1 Ca2+sites, suggesting that both high-affinity Ca2+sites transduce their effect, at least in part, through the αB helix. Mg2+activation also decreased. The crystal structure of the CTD with proline mutation L390P showed a flattening of the first helical turn in the αB helix compared to wild type, without other notable differences in the CTD, indicating that structural changes from the mutation were confined to the αB helix. These findings indicate that an intact αB helix/VSD interface is required for effective coupling of Ca2+binding and voltage depolarization to pore opening and that shared Ca2+and voltage transduction pathways involving the αB helix may be involved.

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Protein-induced conformational changes in 16S rRNA during assembly of the Escherichia Coli 30S ribosomal subunit: A STEM study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100128833 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 910-911

Author(s):

M. Boublik ◽

V. Mandiyan ◽

J.F. Hainfeld ◽

J.S. Wall

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Conformational Changes ◽

Ribosomal Proteins ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Ribosomal Subunit ◽

Compact Structure ◽

E Coli ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

16S Rna ◽

30S Subunit

The aim of this study is to understand the mechanism of 16S rRNA folding into the compact structure of the small 30S subunit of E. coli ribosome. The assembly of the 30S E. coli ribosomal subunit is a sequence of specific interactions of 16S rRNA with 21 ribosomal proteins (S1-S21). Using dedicated high resolution STEM we have monitored structural changes induced in 16S rRNA by the proteins S4, S8, S15 and S20 which are involved in the initial steps of 30S subunit assembly. S4 is the first protein to bind directly and stoichiometrically to 16S rRNA. Direct binding also occurs individually between 16S RNA and S8 and S15. However, binding of S20 requires the presence of S4 and S8. The RNA-protein complexes are prepared by the standard reconstitution procedure, dialyzed against 60 mM KCl, 2 mM Mg(OAc)2, 10 mM-Hepes-KOH pH 7.5 (Buffer A), freeze-dried and observed unstained in dark field at -160°.

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Influence of Ascorbic Acid on the Structure and Function of Alpha-2- macroglobulin: Investigations using Spectroscopic and Thermodynamic Techniques

Protein and Peptide Letters ◽

10.2174/0929866526666191002113525 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 201-209

Author(s):

Syed Saqib Ali ◽

Mohammad Khalid Zia ◽

Tooba Siddiqui ◽

Haseeb Ahsan ◽

Fahim Halim Khan

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Conformational Changes ◽

Structural Changes ◽

The Body ◽

Titration Calorimetry ◽

Spectroscopic Techniques ◽

Human Beings ◽

Plasma Ascorbic Acid ◽

Dietary Antioxidant ◽

And Function

Background: Ascorbic acid is a classic dietary antioxidant which plays an important role in the body of human beings. It is commonly found in various foods as well as taken as dietary supplement. Objective: The plasma ascorbic acid concentration may range from low, as in chronic or acute oxidative stress to high if delivered intravenously during cancer treatment. Sheep alpha-2- macroglobulin (α2M), a human α2M homologue is a large tetrameric glycoprotein of 630 kDa with antiproteinase activity, found in sheep’s blood. Methods: In the present study, the interaction of ascorbic acid with alpha-2-macroglobulin was explored in the presence of visible light by utilizing various spectroscopic techniques and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Results: UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy suggests the formation of a complex between ascorbic acid and α2M apparent by increased absorbance and decreased fluorescence. Secondary structural changes in the α2M were investigated by CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. Our findings suggest the induction of subtle conformational changes in α2M induced by ascorbic acid. Thermodynamics signatures of ascorbic acid and α2M interaction indicate that the binding is an enthalpy-driven process. Conclusion: It is possible that ascorbic acid binds and compromises antiproteinase activity of α2M by inducing changes in the secondary structure of the protein.

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Metastability in Monolayer Films Transferred onto Solid Substrates by the Langmuir-Blodgett Method: IR Evidence for Transfer-Induced Phase Transitions

Applied Spectroscopy ◽

10.1366/0003702944027309 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 48 (10) ◽

pp. 1196-1203 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Fazale R. Rana ◽

Suci Widayati ◽

Brian W. Gregory ◽

Richard A. Dluhy

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Conformational Changes ◽

Structural Changes ◽

High Surface ◽

Solid Substrate ◽

Water Interface ◽

Monolayer Films ◽

Langmuir Blodgett ◽

Monomolecular Film ◽

Air Water Interface

The rate at which a monomolecular film is deposited onto a solid substrate in the Langmuir-Blodgett process of preparing supported monolayer films influences the final structure of the transferred film. Attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopic studies of monolayers transferred to germanium substrates show that the speed at which the substrate is drawn through the air/water interface influences the final conformation in the hydrocarbon chains of amphiphilic film molecules. This transfer-induced effect is especially evident when the monolayer is transferred from the expanded region of surface-pressure-molecular-area isotherms at low surface pressures; the effect is minimized when the film molecules are transferred from condensed phases at high surface pressures. This phenomenon has been observed for both a fatty acid and a phospholipid, which suggests that these conformational changes may occur in a variety of hydrocarbon amphiphiles transferred from the air/water interface. This conformational ordering may be due to a kinetically limited phase transition taking place in the meniscus formed between the solid substrate and aqueous subphase. In addition, the results obtained for both the phospholipid and fatty acid suggest that the structure of the amphiphile may help determine the extent and nature of the transfer-speed-induced structural changes taking place in the monomolecular film.

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New insights into the structural basis of integrin activation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2003-01-0334 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 102 (4) ◽

pp. 1155-1159 ◽

Cited By ~ 133

Author(s):

Jian-Ping Xiong ◽

Thilo Stehle ◽

Simon L. Goodman ◽

M. Amin Arnaout

Keyword(s):

Conformational Changes ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Structural Basis ◽

Integrin Activation ◽

Cellular Functions ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

The Past ◽

Intracellular Signals ◽

Bidirectional Signaling ◽

New Hypothesis

Abstract Integrins are cell adhesion receptors that communicate biochemical and mechanical signals in a bidirectional manner across the plasma membrane and thus influence most cellular functions. Intracellular signals switch integrins into a ligand-competent state as a result of elicited conformational changes in the integrin ectodomain. Binding of extracellular ligands induces, in turn, structural changes that convey distinct signals to the cell interior. The structural basis of this bidirectional signaling has been the focus of intensive study for the past 3 decades. In this perspective, we develop a new hypothesis for integrin activation based on recent crystallographic, electron microscopic, and biochemical studies.

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Metastable Intermediates as Stepping Stones on the Maturation Pathways of Viral Capsids

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.02067-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Giovanni Cardone ◽

Robert L. Duda ◽

Naiqian Cheng ◽

Lili You ◽

James F. Conway ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Conformational Changes ◽

Large Scale ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Energy Landscape ◽

Potential Hazard ◽

Stepping Stones ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Conformational Effects ◽

Capsid Maturation ◽

Capsid Integrity

ABSTRACT As they mature, many capsids undergo massive conformational changes that transform their stability, reactivity, and capacity for DNA. In some cases, maturation proceeds via one or more intermediate states. These structures represent local minima in a rich energy landscape that combines contributions from subunit folding, association of subunits into capsomers, and intercapsomer interactions. We have used scanning calorimetry and cryo-electron microscopy to explore the range of capsid conformations accessible to bacteriophage HK97. To separate conformational effects from those associated with covalent cross-linking (a stabilization mechanism of HK97), a cross-link-incompetent mutant was used. The mature capsid Head I undergoes an endothermic phase transition at 60°C in which it shrinks by 7%, primarily through changes in its hexamer conformation. The transition is reversible, with a half-life of ~3 min; however, >50% of reverted capsids are severely distorted or ruptured. This observation implies that such damage is a potential hazard of large-scale structural changes such as those involved in maturation. Assuming that the risk is lower for smaller changes, this suggests a rationalization for the existence of metastable intermediates: that they serve as stepping stones that preserve capsid integrity as it switches between the radically different conformations of its precursor and mature states. IMPORTANCE Large-scale conformational changes are widespread in virus maturation and infection processes. These changes are accompanied by the release of conformational free energy as the virion (or fusogenic glycoprotein) switches from a precursor state to its mature state. Each state corresponds to a local minimum in an energy landscape. The conformational changes in capsid maturation are so radical that the question arises of how maturing capsids avoid being torn apart. Offering proof of principle, severe damage is inflicted when a bacteriophage HK97 capsid reverts from the (nonphysiological) state that it enters when heated past 60°C. We suggest that capsid proteins have been selected in part by the criterion of being able to avoid sustaining collateral damage as they mature. One way of achieving this—as with the HK97 capsid—involves breaking the overall transition down into several smaller steps in which the risk of damage is reduced.

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Electronic Circular Dichroism of the Cas9 Protein and gRNA:Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Complex

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22062937 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 2937

Author(s):

Monika Halat ◽

Magdalena Klimek-Chodacka ◽

Jagoda Orleanska ◽

Malgorzata Baranska ◽

Rafal Baranski

Keyword(s):

Circular Dichroism ◽

Conformational Changes ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Electronic Circular Dichroism ◽

Guide Rna ◽

Cas9 Protein ◽

Rnp Complex ◽

Characteristic Features ◽

Circular Dichroïsm

The Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 protein (SpCas9), a component of CRISPR-based immune system in microbes, has become commonly utilized for genome editing. This nuclease forms a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex with guide RNA (gRNA) which induces Cas9 structural changes and triggers its cleavage activity. Here, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy was used to confirm the RNP formation and to determine its individual components. The ECD spectra had characteristic features differentiating Cas9 and gRNA, the former showed a negative/positive profile with maxima located at 221, 209 and 196 nm, while the latter revealed positive/negative/positive/negative pattern with bands observed at 266, 242, 222 and 209 nm, respectively. For the first time, the experimental ECD spectrum of the gRNA:Cas9 RNP complex is presented. It exhibits a bisignate positive/negative ECD couplet with maxima at 273 and 235 nm, and it differs significantly from individual spectrum of each RNP components. Additionally, the Cas9 protein and RNP complex retained biological activity after ECD measurements and they were able to bind and cleave DNA in vitro. Hence, we conclude that ECD spectroscopy can be considered as a quick and non-destructive method of monitoring conformational changes of the Cas9 protein as a result of Cas9 and gRNA interaction, and identification of the gRNA:Cas9 RNP complex.

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Characterization of Functional Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoproteins

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.78.6.2994-3002.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 2994-3002 ◽

Cited By ~ 157

Author(s):

Anne Op De Beeck ◽

Cécile Voisset ◽

Birke Bartosch ◽

Yann Ciczora ◽

Laurence Cocquerel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monoclonal Antibodies ◽

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Conformational Changes ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Envelope Proteins ◽

Viral Envelope ◽

Envelope Glycoproteins ◽

Functional Envelope

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) encodes two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, that assemble as a noncovalent heterodimer which is mainly retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. Because assembly into particles and secretion from the cell lead to structural changes in viral envelope proteins, characterization of the proteins associated with the virion is necessary in order to better understand how they mature to be functional in virus entry. There is currently no efficient and reliable cell culture system to amplify HCV, and the envelope glycoproteins associated with the virion have therefore not been characterized yet. Recently, infectious pseudotype particles that are assembled by displaying unmodified HCV envelope glycoproteins on retroviral core particles have been successfully generated. Because HCV pseudotype particles contain fully functional envelope glycoproteins, these envelope proteins, or at least a fraction of them, should be in a mature conformation similar to that on the native HCV particles. In this study, we used conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies to characterize the envelope glycoproteins associated with HCV pseudotype particles. We showed that the functional unit is a noncovalent E1E2 heterodimer containing complex or hybrid type glycans. We did not observe any evidence of maturation by a cellular endoprotease during the transport of these envelope glycoproteins through the secretory pathway. These envelope glycoproteins were recognized by a panel of conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies as well as by CD81, a molecule involved in HCV entry. The functional envelope glycoproteins associated with HCV pseudotype particles were also shown to be sensitive to low-pH treatment. Such conformational changes are likely necessary to initiate fusion.

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Abstract P170: Nicorandil Inhibits Gáq-Induced Chronic Heart Failure in Transgenic Mice

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.109.suppl_1.ap170 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 109 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Masamichi Hirose ◽

Yasuchika Takeishi ◽

Hisashi Shimojo ◽

Toshihide Kashihara ◽

Tsutomu Nakada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Transgenic Mice ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Interstitial Fibrosis ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Acute Administration ◽

Sulfonylurea Receptor ◽

Inhibitory Effects ◽

Premature Ventricular Contractions ◽

Beneficial Effects

Introduction: Beneficial effects of nicorandil on the treatment of hypertensive heart failure (HF) and ischemic heart disease have been suggested. However, whether nicorandil has inhibitory effects on HF and ventricular arrhythmias caused by the activation of G protein alpha q (Gαq) -coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway still remains unknown. We examined effects of chronic and acute administration of nicorandil on the development of HF and ventricular action potential (VAP) in transgenic mice with transient cardiac expression of activated Gαq (Gαq-TG), respectively. Method and Results: Nicorandil (6 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was chronically administered in Gαq-TG mice for 24 weeks from 8 weeks of age, and then ventricular function, and electrical and structural changes were investigated in the hearts. Chronic nicorandil administration improved the reduction of left ventricular fractional shortening (p < 0.001) in Gαq-TG hearts. During 10 min of electrocardiogram recording, premature ventricular contractions (more than 20 beats/min) were observed in 7 of 10 vehicle-treated Gαq-TG but in none of 10 nicorandil-treated Gαq-TG hearts (p < 0.01). QT interval was significantly shorter in nicorandil-treated Gαq-TG than in vehicle-treated Gαq-TG hearts (p < 0.05). Chronic nicorandil administration improved the increased ventricular interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.05) but not cardiac hypertrophy in Gαq-TG left ventricles. Real time RT-PCR revealed that mRNA expression levels of s sulfonylurea receptor 2B (SUR-2B) were decreased in vehicle-treatd Gαq-TG but not in nicorandil-treated Gαq-TG. In addition, chronic nicorandil increased endotherial nitric oxide syntheses gene expression in Gαq-TG hearts (p < 0.05). Acute nicorandil administration (1 microM) significantly shortened the prolonged VAP duration and reduced the number of PVCs in vehicle treated Gαq-TG hearts. Conclusions: These findings suggest that nicorandil inhibits ventricular electrical and structural remodeling and arrhythmias through the shortening of VAP duration and the increased expression of SUR-2B and eNOS in a mouse model of HF.

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