scholarly journals A Novel Spider Toxin Inhibits Fast Inactivation of the Nav1.9 Channel by Binding to Domain III and Domain IV Voltage Sensors

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuijiao Peng ◽  
Minzhi Chen ◽  
Zhen Xiao ◽  
Xin Xiao ◽  
Sen Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Receptor Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Fast Inactivation ◽  
Toxin Binding ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Peptide Toxin ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
Domain Iii

Venomous animals have evolved to produce peptide toxins that modulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels. These specific modulators are powerful probes for investigating the structural and functional features of Nav channels. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of δ-theraphotoxin-Gr4b (Gr4b), a novel peptide toxin from the venom of the spider Grammostola rosea. Gr4b contains 37-amino acid residues with six cysteines forming three disulfide bonds. Patch-clamp analysis confirmed that Gr4b markedly slows the fast inactivation of Nav1.9 and inhibits the currents of Nav1.4 and Nav1.7, but does not affect Nav1.8. It was also found that Gr4b significantly shifts the steady-state activation and inactivation curves of Nav1.9 to the depolarization direction and increases the window current, which is consistent with the change in the ramp current. Furthermore, analysis of Nav1.9/Nav1.8 chimeric channels revealed that Gr4b preferentially binds to the voltage-sensor of domain III (DIII VSD) and has additional interactions with the DIV VSD. The site-directed mutagenesis analysis indicated that N1139 and L1143 in DIII S3-S4 linker participate in toxin binding. In sum, this study reports a novel spider peptide toxin that may slow the fast inactivation of Nav1.9 by binding to the new neurotoxin receptor site-DIII VSD. Taken together, these findings provide insight into the functional role of the Nav channel DIII VSD in fast inactivation and activation.

scholarly journals Mutation analysis of the cross-reactive epitopes of Japanese encephalitis virus envelope glycoprotein

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 1185-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyan-Song Chiou ◽  
Yi-Chin Fan ◽  
Wayne D. Crill ◽  
Ruey-Yi Chang ◽  
Gwong-Jen J. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Japanese Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Japanese Encephalitis ◽  
Recombinant Expression ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Virus Envelope ◽  
E Protein ◽  
Domain Iii

Group and serocomplex cross-reactive epitopes have been identified in the envelope (E) protein of several flaviviruses and have proven critical in vaccine and diagnostic antigen development. Here, we performed site-directed mutagenesis across the E gene of a recombinant expression plasmid that encodes the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) premembrane (prM) and E proteins and produces JEV virus-like particles (VLPs). Mutations were introduced at I135 and E138 in domain I; W101, G104, G106 and L107 in domain II; and T305, E306, K312, A315, S329, S331, G332 and D389 in domain III. None of the mutant JEV VLPs demonstrated reduced activity to the five JEV type-specific mAbs tested. Substitutions at W101, especially W101G, reduced reactivity dramatically with all of the flavivirus group cross-reactive mAbs. The group and JEV serocomplex cross-reactive mAbs examined recognized five and six different overlapping epitopes, respectively. Among five group cross-reactive epitopes, amino acids located in domains I, II and III were involved in one, five and three epitopes, respectively. Recognition by six JEV serocomplex cross-reactive mAbs was reduced by amino acid substitutions in domains II and III. These results suggest that amino acid residues located in the fusion loop of E domain II are the most critical for recognition by group cross-reactive mAbs, followed by residues of domains III and I. The amino acid residues of both domains II and III of the E protein were shown to be important in the binding of JEV serocomplex cross-reactive mAbs.

scholarly journals New Insights of the Zn(II)-Induced P2 × 4R Positive Allosteric Modulation: Role of Head Receptor Domain SS2/SS3, E160 and D170

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6940
Author(s):  
Francisco Andrés Peralta ◽  
J. Pablo Huidobro-Toro
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Allosteric Modulation ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Electrophysiological Recordings ◽  
Poisson Boltzmann ◽  
Type Receptor ◽  
Receptor Domain

P2 × 4R is allosterically modulated by Zn(II), and despite the efforts to understand the mechanism, there is not a consensus proposal; C132 is a critical amino acid for the Zn(II) modulation, and this residue is located in the receptor head domain, forming disulfide SS3. To ascertain the role of the SS2/SS3 microenvironment on the rP2 × 4R Zn(II)-induced allosteric modulation, we investigated the contribution of each individual SS2/SS3 cysteine plus carboxylic acid residues E118, E160, and D170, located in the immediate vicinity of the SS2/SS3 disulfide bonds. To this aim, we combined electrophysiological recordings with protein chemical alkylation using thiol reagents such as N-ethylmaleimide or iodoacetamide, and a mutation of key amino acid residues together with P2 × 4 receptor bioinformatics. P2 × 4R alkylation in the presence of the metal obliterated the allosteric modulation, a finding supported by the site-directed mutagenesis of C132 and C149 by a corresponding alanine. In addition, while E118Q was sensitive to Zn(II) modulation, the wild type receptor, mutants E160Q and D170N, were not, suggesting that these acid residues participate in the modulatory mechanism. Poisson–Boltzmann analysis indicated that the E160Q and D170N mutants showed a shift towards more positive electrostatic potential in the SS2/SS3 microenvironment. Present results highlight the role of C132 and C149 as putative Zn(II) ligands; in addition, we infer that acid residues E160 and D170 play a role attracting Zn(II) to the head receptor domain.

scholarly journals Molecular Analysis of Potential Hinge Residues in the Inactivation Gate of Brain Type IIA Na+ Channels

1997 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 607-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Kellenberger ◽  
James W. West ◽  
William A. Catterall ◽  
Todd Scheuer
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Receptor Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Na Channels ◽  
Intracellular Loop ◽  
Single Channel Analysis ◽  
Channel Analysis ◽  
Conformational Coupling

During inactivation of Na+ channels, the intracellular loop connecting domains III and IV is thought to fold into the channel protein and occlude the pore through interaction of the hydrophobic motif isoleucine-phenylalanine-methionine (IFM) with a receptor site. We have searched for amino acid residues flanking the IFM motif which may contribute to formation of molecular hinges that allow this motion of the inactivation gate. Site-directed mutagenesis of proline and glycine residues, which often are components of molecular hinges in proteins, revealed that G1484, G1485, P1512, P1514, and P1516 are required for normal fast inactivation. Mutations of these residues slow the time course of macroscopic inactivation. Single channel analysis of mutations G1484A, G1485A, and P1512A showed that the slowing of macroscopic inactivation is produced by increases in open duration and latency to first opening. These mutant channels also show a higher probability of entering a slow gating mode in which their inactivation is further impaired. The effects on gating transitions in the pathway to open Na+ channels indicate conformational coupling of activation to transitions in the inactivation gate. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that these glycine and proline residues contribute to hinge regions which allow movement of the inactivation gate during the inactivation process of Na+ channels.

Genetic and transcriptomic analysis of postharvest decay resistance in Malus sieversii and the identification of pathogenicity effectors in Penicillium expansum

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wisniewski ◽  
Samir Droby ◽  
John Norelli ◽  
Dov Prusky ◽  
Vera Hershkovitz
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Receptor Site ◽  
Penicillium Expansum ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Core Domain ◽  
Lower Affinity ◽  
Toxin Binding ◽  
Membrane Algorithm ◽  
Voltage Dependent

Use of Lqh2 mutants (produced at TAU) and rNav1.2a mutants (produced at the US side) for identifying receptor site-3: Based on the fact that binding of scorpion alpha-toxins is voltage-dependent, which suggests toxin binding at the mobile voltage-sensing region, we analyzed which of the toxin bioactive domains (Core-domain or NC-domain) interacts with the DIV Gating-module of rNav1.2a. This analysis was based on the assumption that the dissociation of toxin mutants upon depolarization would vary from that of the unmodified toxin should the substitutions affect a site of interaction with the channel Gating-module. Using a series of toxin mutants (mutations at both domains) and two channel mutants that were shown to reduce the sensitivity to scorpion alpha-toxins, and by comparison of depolarization-driven dissociation of Lqh2 derivatives off their binding site at rNav1.2a mutant channels we found that the toxin Core-domain interacts with the Gating-module of DIV. Details of the experiments and results appear in Guret al (2011). Mapping receptor site 3 at Nav1.2a by extensive channel mutagenesis (Seattle): Since previous studies with photoaffinity labeling and antibody mapping implicated domains I and IV in scorpion alpha-toxin binding, Nav1.2 channel mutants containing substitutions at these extracellular regions were expressed and tested for receptor function by whole-cell voltage clamp. Of a large number of channel mutants, T1560A, F1610A, and E1613A in domain IV had ~5.9-, ~10.7-, and ~3.9-fold lower affinities for the scorpion toxin Lqh2, respectively, and mutant E1613R had 73-fold lower affinity. Toxin dissociation was accelerated by depolarization for both wild-type and mutants, and the rates of dissociation were also increased by mutations T1560A, F1610A and E1613A. In contrast, association rates for these three mutant channels at negative membrane potentials were not significantly changed and were not voltage-dependent. These results indicated that Thr1560 in the S1-S2 loop, Phe1610 in the S3 segment, and Glu1613 in the S3-S4 loop in domain IV participate in toxin binding. T393A in the SS2-S6 loop in domain I also showed a ~3.4-fold lower affinity for Lqh2, indicating that this extracellular loop may form a secondary component of the toxin binding site. Analysis with the Rosetta-Membrane algorithm revealed a three-dimensional model of Lqh2 binding to the voltage sensor in a resting state. In this model, amino acid residues in an extracellular cleft formed by the S1-S2 and S3-S4 loops in domain IV that are important for toxin binding interact with amino acid residues on two faces of the wedge-shaped Lqh2 molecule that are important for toxin action. The conserved gating charges in the S4 transmembrane segment are in an inward position and likely form ion pairs with negatively charged amino acid residues in the S2 and S3 segments (Wang et al 2011; Gurevitz 2012; Gurevitzet al 2013).

Chitosanase from Streptomyces sp. strain N174: a comparative review of its structure and function

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 687-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamo Fukamizo ◽  
Ryszard Brzezinski
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Substrate Binding ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Streptomyces Sp ◽  
Binding Cleft ◽  
And Function

Novel information on the structure and function of chitosanase, which hydrolyzes the beta -1,4-glycosidic linkage of chitosan, has accumulated in recent years. The cloning of the chitosanase gene from Streptomyces sp. strain N174 and the establishment of an efficient expression system using Streptomyces lividans TK24 have contributed to these advances. Amino acid sequence comparisons of the chitosanases that have been sequenced to date revealed a significant homology in the N-terminal module. From energy minimization based on the X-ray crystal structure of Streptomyces sp. strain N174 chitosanase, the substrate binding cleft of this enzyme was estimated to be composed of six monosaccharide binding subsites. The hydrolytic reaction takes place at the center of the binding cleft with an inverting mechanism. Site-directed mutagenesis of the carboxylic amino acid residues that are conserved revealed that Glu-22 and Asp-40 are the catalytic residues. The tryptophan residues in the chitosanase do not participate directly in the substrate binding but stabilize the protein structure by interacting with hydrophobic and carboxylic side chains of the other amino acid residues. Structural and functional similarities were found between chitosanase, barley chitinase, bacteriophage T4 lysozyme, and goose egg white lysozyme, even though these proteins share no sequence similarities. This information can be helpful for the design of new chitinolytic enzymes that can be applied to carbohydrate engineering, biological control of phytopathogens, and other fields including chitinous polysaccharide degradation. Key words: chitosanase, amino acid sequence, overexpression system, reaction mechanism, site-directed mutagenesis.

Replacement of the interchain disulfide bridge-forming amino acids A7 and B7 by glutamate impairs the structure and activity of insulin

2004 ◽  
Vol 385 (12) ◽  
pp. 1171-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhan-Yun Guo ◽  
Xiao-Yuan Jia ◽  
You-Min Feng
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Negative Charge ◽  
Disulfide Bridge ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Insulin Analogs ◽  
High Biological Activity ◽  
Chemical Groups ◽  
Structure And Activity

Abstract Insulin contains three disulfide bonds, one intrachain bond, A6–A11, and two interchain bonds, A7–B7 and A20–B19. Site-directed mutagenesis results (the two cysteine residues of disulfide A7–B7 were replaced by serine) showed that disulfide A7–B7 is crucial to both the structure and activity of insulin. However, chemical modification results showed that the insulin analogs still retained relatively high biological activity when A7Cys and B7Cys were modified by chemical groups with a negative charge. Did the negative charge of the modification groups restore the loss of activity and/or the disturbance of structure of these insulin analogs caused by deletion of disulfide A7–B7? To answer this question, an insulin analog with both A7Cys and B7Cys replaced by Glu, which has a long side-chain and a negative charge, was prepared by protein engineering, and its structure and activity were analyzed. Both the structure and activity of the present analog are very similar to that of the mutant with disulfide A7–B7 replaced by Ser, but significantly different from that of wild-type insulin. The present results suggest that removal of disulfide A7–B7 will result in serious loss of biological activity and the native conformation of insulin, even if the disulfide is replaced by residues with a negative charge.

scholarly journals Identification and characterization of amphibian SLC26A5 using RNA-Seq

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongying Wang ◽  
Qixuan Wang ◽  
Hao Wu ◽  
Zhiwu Huang
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Inner Ear ◽  
Hair Cells ◽  
Rana Catesbeiana ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
American Bullfrog ◽  
Frog Species

Abstract Background Prestin (SLC26A5) is responsible for acute sensitivity and frequency selectivity in the vertebrate auditory system. Limited knowledge of prestin is from experiments using site-directed mutagenesis or domain-swapping techniques after the amino acid residues were identified by comparing the sequence of prestin to those of its paralogs and orthologs. Frog prestin is the only representative in amphibian lineage and the studies of it were quite rare with only one species identified. Results Here we report a new coding sequence of SLC26A5 for a frog species, Rana catesbeiana (the American bullfrog). In our study, the SLC26A5 gene of Rana has been mapped, sequenced and cloned successively using RNA-Seq. We measured the nonlinear capacitance (NLC) of prestin both in the hair cells of Rana’s inner ear and HEK293T cells transfected with this new coding gene. HEK293T cells expressing Rana prestin showed electrophysiological features similar to that of hair cells from its inner ear. Comparative studies of zebrafish, chick, Rana and an ancient frog species showed that chick and zebrafish prestin lacked NLC. Ancient frog’s prestin was functionally different from Rana. Conclusions We mapped and sequenced the SLC26A5 of the Rana catesbeiana from its inner ear cDNA using RNA-Seq. The Rana SLC26A5 cDNA was 2292 bp long, encoding a polypeptide of 763 amino acid residues, with 40% identity to mammals. This new coding gene could encode a functionally active protein conferring NLC to both frog HCs and the mammalian cell line. While comparing to its orthologs, the amphibian prestin has been evolutionarily changing its function and becomes more advanced than avian and teleost prestin.

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