Metalloproteins: metal binding predicted on the basis of the amino acid sequence

2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliviero Carugo

A protein sequence is often insufficient for knowledge of the chemical formula and the properties of the mature molecule that perform its function. Post-translational modifications are very common and most of them cannot be predicted on the basis of the protein sequence alone. A very common chemical modification of proteins that is not directly encoded by a single gene is the complexation with metal cations. Here it is shown that the uptake of metal ions (calcium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel or zinc) by proteins can be predicted on the basis of the amino acid composition, by using a mixture of several simplified amino acid alphabets and by employing machine learning methods, with 70–90% accuracy, depending on the type of metal. Not only is it possible to predict if a protein requires a certain metal ion but it is also possible to discriminate amongst various metal species. These results are likely to be useful in structural proteomics, by improving the experiment success rate, and in comparative genomics, where it is interesting to compare metal-ion contents in different organisms. It is particularly important that these predictions can be made when homology-based annotations are impossible.

Biomolecules ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Yanchun Lin ◽  
Michael L. Gross

Metal ions are critical for the biological and physiological functions of many proteins. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based structural proteomics is an ever-growing field that has been adopted to study protein and metal ion interactions. Native MS offers information on metal binding and its stoichiometry. Footprinting approaches coupled with MS, including hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX), “fast photochemical oxidation of proteins” (FPOP) and targeted amino-acid labeling, identify binding sites and regions undergoing conformational changes. MS-based titration methods, including “protein–ligand interactions by mass spectrometry, titration and HD exchange” (PLIMSTEX) and “ligand titration, fast photochemical oxidation of proteins and mass spectrometry” (LITPOMS), afford binding stoichiometry, binding affinity, and binding order. These MS-based structural proteomics approaches, their applications to answer questions regarding metal ion protein interactions, their limitations, and recent and potential improvements are discussed here. This review serves as a demonstration of the capabilities of these tools and as an introduction to wider applications to solve other questions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 530-534
Author(s):  
Luca Sauser ◽  
Michal S. Shoshan

More than 50% of proteinogenic amino acid sidechains can bind metal ions, enabling proteins and peptides to bear these ions as cofactors. Nevertheless, post-translational modifications and incorporation of noncanonical amino acids bestow peptides and proteins myriads of other coordination capabilities, thanks to an enhanced metal binding. Here we summarize selected examples of natural and artificial systems that contain one or more noncanonical amino acids coordinating a metal ion and subsequently achieve a new or enhanced function. We report on a wide array of systems: from disease-related proteins that undergo sulfurylation or phosphorylation through natural metallophores that selectively capture precious essential ions to synthetic selfassembly strategies, biocatalysts, and chelating agents against toxic metals. Regardless of their (bio)synthetic routes, all possess unique metal-binding properties that could not be effectively achieved by systems composed of canonical residues.


1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 2221-2243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M Chapman ◽  
Feiyue Wang ◽  
Colin Janssen ◽  
Guido Persoone ◽  
Herbert E Allen

Major metal-binding phases in the aerobic layer of sediments are iron and manganese oxyhydroxides (FeOOH and MnOOH) and particulate organic carbon (POC). The acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) model proposed for predicting nontoxicity from metals-contaminated sediments is only applicable to anaerobic sediments. In other sediments, normalization by POC or FeOOH and MnOOH may be predictive, but binding constants are not well understood. Metal mobilization is enhanced by ligand complexation and oxidation of anaerobic sediments. Free metal ion is the most bioavailable species, but other labile metal species and nonchemical variables also determine metal bioavailability; biotic site binding models have shown promise predicting toxicity for systems of differing chemistry. Hazard identification and ecological risk assessment (ERA) depend on determining bioavailability, from water (overlying, interstitial) and food, which can be done prospectively (e.g., normalized sediment chemistry, laboratory bioassays) or retrospectively (e.g., in situ bioassays, field studies). ERA of sediment-bound metals requires primary emphasis on toxicity and consideration of the three separate transformation processes for metals in the aquatic environment, the differences between essential and nonessential metals, the complex interactions that control bioavailability, adaptation, which may occur relatively simply without appreciable cost to the organism, weight of evidence, and causality.


1986 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. PATEL ◽  
D. M. JACKMAN ◽  
G. J. WILLIAMS ◽  
F. M. BARTLETT

Four purified heat-stable proteases from psychrotrophic pseudomonads were characterized and compared with other similar purified proteases. Amino acid compositions, hydrophobicities, Difference Index (DI) values, heat-stabilities, metal ion contents and N-terminal amino acids of these proteases were examined. Some similarities as well as differences in their amino acid compositions were observed. All were inactivated by EDTA-treatment and the apoenzymes were reactivated with either Ca, Mg or Mn ions. Proteases T25, T20, T16 and T13 contained 16, 8, 4 and 5 g atom per mol of Ca, respectively. Except for protease T20 which showed 4 g atom per mol of Mg, the other proteases showed less than 1 g atom per mol of the element. The Mn content of the proteases was negligible (less than 0.1 g atom per mol). The presence of exogenous Ca afforded protection to the protease activity in the partially purified enzymes when subjected to heat treatment. Heated samples of proteases when stored in cold regained activity indicating renaturation of the proteins. Threonine was tentatively identified as the N-terminal amino acid in the four purified proteases. Similarities and differences observed between purified proteases are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (21) ◽  
pp. 3333-3353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malti Yadav ◽  
Kamalendu Pal ◽  
Udayaditya Sen

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) have emerged as the central molecules that aid bacteria to adapt and thrive in changing environmental conditions. Therefore, tight regulation of intracellular CDN concentration by counteracting the action of dinucleotide cyclases and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) is critical. Here, we demonstrate that a putative stand-alone EAL domain PDE from Vibrio cholerae (VcEAL) is capable to degrade both the second messenger c-di-GMP and hybrid 3′3′-cyclic GMP–AMP (cGAMP). To unveil their degradation mechanism, we have determined high-resolution crystal structures of VcEAL with Ca2+, c-di-GMP-Ca2+, 5′-pGpG-Ca2+ and cGAMP-Ca2+, the latter provides the first structural basis of cGAMP hydrolysis. Structural studies reveal a typical triosephosphate isomerase barrel-fold with substrate c-di-GMP/cGAMP bound in an extended conformation. Highly conserved residues specifically bind the guanine base of c-di-GMP/cGAMP in the G2 site while the semi-conserved nature of residues at the G1 site could act as a specificity determinant. Two metal ions, co-ordinated with six stubbornly conserved residues and two non-bridging scissile phosphate oxygens of c-di-GMP/cGAMP, activate a water molecule for an in-line attack on the phosphodiester bond, supporting two-metal ion-based catalytic mechanism. PDE activity and biofilm assays of several prudently designed mutants collectively demonstrate that VcEAL active site is charge and size optimized. Intriguingly, in VcEAL-5′-pGpG-Ca2+ structure, β5–α5 loop adopts a novel conformation that along with conserved E131 creates a new metal-binding site. This novel conformation along with several subtle changes in the active site designate VcEAL-5′-pGpG-Ca2+ structure quite different from other 5′-pGpG bound structures reported earlier.


2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1543-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herman P. Van Leeuwen ◽  
Raewyn M. Town

The degree of (de)protonation of aqueous metal species has significant consequences for the kinetics of complex formation/dissociation. All protonated forms of both the ligand and the hydrated central metal ion contribute to the rate of complex formation to an extent weighted by the pertaining outer-sphere stabilities. Likewise, the lifetime of the uncomplexed metal is determined by all the various protonated ligand species. Therefore, the interfacial reaction layer thickness, μ, and the ensuing kinetic flux, Jkin, are more involved than in the conventional case. All inner-sphere complexes contribute to the overall rate of dissociation, as weighted by their respective rate constants for dissociation, kd. The presence of inner-sphere deprotonated H2O, or of outer-sphere protonated ligand, generally has a great impact on kd of the inner-sphere complex. Consequently, the overall flux can be dominated by a species that is a minor component of the bulk speciation. The concepts are shown to provide a good description of experimental stripping chronopotentiometric data for several protonated metal–ligand systems.


1988 ◽  
Vol 251 (3) ◽  
pp. 691-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
R W Olafson ◽  
W D McCubbin ◽  
C M Kay

Biochemical and physiological studies of Synechococcus cyanobacteria have indicated the presence of a low-Mr heavy-metal-binding protein with marked similarity to eukaryotic metallothioneins (MTs). We report here the characterization of a Synechococcus prokaryotic MT isolated by gel-permeation and reverse-phase chromatography. The large number of variants of this molecule found during chromatographic separation could not be attributed to the presence of major isoproteins as assessed by amino acid analysis and amino acid sequencing of isoforms. Two of the latter were shown to have identical primary structures that differed substantially from the well-described eukaryotic MTs. In addition to six long-chain aliphatic residues, two aromatic residues were found adjacent to one another near the centre of the molecule, making this the most hydrophobic MT to be described. Other unusual features included a pair of histidine residues located in repeating Gly-His-Thr-Gly sequences near the C-terminus and a complete lack of association of hydroxylated residues with cysteine residues, as is commonly found in eukaryotes. Similarly, aside from a single lysine residue, no basic amino acid residues were found adjacent to cysteine residues in the sequence. Most importantly, sequence alignment analyses with mammalian, invertebrate and fungal MT sequences showed no statistically significant homology aside from the presence of Cys-Xaa-Cys structures common to all MTs. On the other hand, like other MTs, the prokaryotic molecule appears to be free of alpha-helical structure but has a considerable amount of beta-structure, as predicted by both c.d. measurements and the Chou & Fasman empirical relations. Considered together, these data suggested that some similarity between the metal-thiolate clusters of the prokaryote and eukaryote MTs may exist.


1987 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bennick

Considerable advances have been made in the genetics of salivary proline-rich proteins (PRP). The genes for acidic, basic, and glycosylated PRP have been cloned. They code for precursor proteins that all have an acidic N-terminal followed by proline-rich repeat sequences. Structural studies on secreted proteins have demonstrated that not only acidic but also some basic PRPs have this general structure. It is possible that mRNA for different PRP may have originated from a single gene by differential mRNA splicing, but post-translational cleavages of the primary translation product apparently also occur. In vitro translation of salivary gland mRNA results in a single precursor protein for acidic PRP. Such in vitro translated protein can be cleaved by salivary kallikrein, giving rise to two commonly secreted acidic PRPs, and kallikrein or kallikrein-like enzymes may be responsible for other post-translational cleavages of PRPs. Acidic as well as some basic PRPs are phosphorylated. A protein kinase has been demonstrated in salivary glands which phosphorylates the PRPs and other secreted salivary proteins in a cAMP and Ca2+-calmodulinindependent manner. Knowledge of the conformation of PRPs is limited. There is no conclusive evidence of polyproline-like structure in the proline-rich part of PRPs. Ca2+ binding studies on acidic PRPs indicate that there is interaction between the Ca2+ binding N-terminal end and the proline-rich C-terminal part. This interaction is relieved by modification of arginine side-chains. 1H, 32P, and 43Ca NMR studies have further elucidated the conformation of acidic PRPs in solution. Present evidence shows that salivary PRPs constitute a unique superfamily of proteins which pose a number of interesting questions concerning gene structure, pre- and post-translational modifications, and protein conformation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4551
Author(s):  
Julie-Anne Fenger ◽  
Gregory T. Sigurdson ◽  
Rebecca J. Robbins ◽  
Thomas M. Collins ◽  
M. Mónica Giusti ◽  
...  

Red cabbage (RC) and purple sweet potato (PSP) are naturally rich in acylated cyanidin glycosides that can bind metal ions and develop intramolecular π-stacking interactions between the cyanidin chromophore and the phenolic acyl residues. In this work, a large set of RC and PSP anthocyanins was investigated for its coloring properties in the presence of iron and aluminum ions. Although relatively modest, the structural differences between RC and PSP anthocyanins, i.e., the acylation site at the external glucose of the sophorosyl moiety (C2-OH for RC vs. C6-OH for PSP) and the presence of coordinating acyl groups (caffeoyl) in PSP anthocyanins only, made a large difference in the color expressed by their metal complexes. For instance, the Al3+-induced bathochromic shifts for RC anthocyanins reached ca. 50 nm at pH 6 and pH 7, vs. at best ca. 20 nm for PSP anthocyanins. With Fe2+ (quickly oxidized to Fe3+ in the complexes), the bathochromic shifts for RC anthocyanins were higher, i.e., up to ca. 90 nm at pH 7 and 110 nm at pH 5.7. A kinetic analysis at different metal/ligand molar ratios combined with an investigation by high-resolution mass spectrometry suggested the formation of metal–anthocyanin complexes of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 stoichiometries. Contrary to predictions based on steric hindrance, acylation by noncoordinating acyl residues favored metal binding and resulted in complexes having much higher molar absorption coefficients. Moreover, the competition between metal binding and water addition to the free ligands (leading to colorless forms) was less severe, although very dependent on the acylation site(s). Overall, anthocyanins from purple sweet potato, and even more from red cabbage, have a strong potential for development as food colorants expressing red to blue hues depending on pH and metal ion.


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