Faculty Opinions recommendation of The role of conformational dynamics and allostery in modulating protein evolution.

Author(s):  
Ivet Bahar
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 267-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Campitelli ◽  
Tushar Modi ◽  
Sudhir Kumar ◽  
S. Banu Ozkan

Advances in sequencing techniques and statistical methods have made it possible not only to predict sequences of ancestral proteins but also to identify thousands of mutations in the human exome, some of which are disease associated. These developments have motivated numerous theories and raised many questions regarding the fundamental principles behind protein evolution, which have been traditionally investigated horizontally using the tip of the phylogenetic tree through comparative studies of extant proteins within a family. In this article, we review a vertical comparison of the modern and resurrected ancestral proteins. We focus mainly on the dynamical properties responsible for a protein's ability to adapt new functions in response to environmental changes. Using the Dynamic Flexibility Index and the Dynamic Coupling Index to quantify the relative flexibility and dynamic coupling at a site-specific, single-amino-acid level, we provide evidence that the migration of hinges, which are often functionally critical rigid sites, is a mechanism through which proteins can rapidly evolve. Additionally, we show that disease-associated mutations in proteins often result in flexibility changes even at positions distal from mutational sites, particularly in the modulation of active site dynamics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Dang ◽  
Yifan Li ◽  
Jianxing Song

AbstractTDP-43 and hnRNPA1 contain tandemly-tethered RNA-recognition-motif (RRM) domains, which not only functionally bind an array of nucleic acids, but also participate in aggregation/fibrillation, a pathological hallmark of various human diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), alzheimer's disease (AD) and Multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). Here, by DSF, NMR and MD simulations we systematically characterized stability, ATP-binding and conformational dynamics of TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 RRM domains in both tethered and isolated forms. The results reveal three key findings: (1) upon tethering TDP-43 RRM domains become dramatically coupled and destabilized with Tm reduced to only 49 °C. (2) ATP specifically binds TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 RRM domains, in which ATP occupies the similar pockets within the conserved nucleic-acid-binding surfaces, with the affinity slightly higher to the tethered than isolated forms. (3) MD simulations indicate that the tethered RRM domains of TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 have higher conformational dynamics than the isolated forms. Two RRM domains become coupled as shown by NMR characterization and analysis of inter-domain correlation motions. The study explains the long-standing puzzle that the tethered TDP-43 RRM1–RRM2 is particularly prone to aggregation/fibrillation, and underscores the general role of ATP in inhibiting aggregation/fibrillation of RRM-containing proteins. The results also rationalize the observation that the risk of aggregation-causing diseases increases with aging.


2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (15) ◽  
pp. 5699-5704 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Doshi ◽  
L. C. McGowan ◽  
S. T. Ladani ◽  
D. Hamelberg

2010 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 639a
Author(s):  
Luisana Astudillo ◽  
Pierre Sebban ◽  
Jaroslava Miksovska

1988 ◽  
pp. 206-216
Author(s):  
Tian Yow Tsong ◽  
A. Bertazzon ◽  
W. F. Harrington

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 4944-4955 ◽  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, which has the propensity to fold into β-sheets under stress forming aggregated amyloid plaques. Nowadays many studies have focused on the development of novel, specific therapeutic strategies to slow down Aβ aggregation or control preformed aggregates. Albumin, the most abundant protein in the cerebrospinal fluid, was reported to bind Aβ impeding its aggregation. Recently, it has been reported that C-terminal (CTerm) of Human Albumin binds with Aβ1-42, impairs Aβ aggregation and promotes disassembly of Aβ aggregates protecting neurons. In this computational study, we have investigated the effect of CTerm on the conformational dynamics and the aggregation propensity of Aβ1-42 peptide. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations on the Aβ1-42-Aβ1-42 homodimer and Aβ1-42-CTerm of albumin heterodimer using the AMBER force field ff99SBildn. From the Potential of mean force (PMF) study and Binding free energy (BFE) analysis, we observed the association of Aβ1-42 peptide monomer with itself in the form of homodimer to be stronger than its association with the CTerm in the heterodimer complex. The difference in the number of residues in the Aβ1-42 peptide monomer (42 AAs) and CTerm (35 AAs) may be probable reason for the difference in association between the monomeric units in corresponding homodimer and heterodimer complexes. But even then CTerm shows a significant effect on the dimerization of Aβ1-42 peptide. Our findings therefore suggest that CTerm can be used for the disassembly of Aβ1-42 peptide monomer.


Author(s):  
Tatyana Bodrug ◽  
Kaeli A. Welsh ◽  
Megan Hinkle ◽  
Michael J. Emanuele ◽  
Nicholas G. Brown

The ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system is vital to nearly every biological process in eukaryotes. Specifically, the conjugation of Ub to target proteins by Ub ligases, such as the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), is paramount for cell cycle transitions as it leads to the irreversible destruction of cell cycle regulators by the proteasome. Through this activity, the RING Ub ligase APC/C governs mitosis, G1, and numerous aspects of neurobiology. Pioneering cryo-EM, biochemical reconstitution, and cell-based studies have illuminated many aspects of the conformational dynamics of this large, multi-subunit complex and the sophisticated regulation of APC/C function. More recent studies have revealed new mechanisms that selectively dictate APC/C activity and explore additional pathways that are controlled by APC/C-mediated ubiquitination, including an intimate relationship with chromatin regulation. These tasks go beyond the traditional cell cycle role historically ascribed to the APC/C. Here, we review these novel findings, examine the mechanistic implications of APC/C regulation, and discuss the role of the APC/C in previously unappreciated signaling pathways.


2015 ◽  
Vol 291 (4) ◽  
pp. 1817-1825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin T. Walters ◽  
Pernille F. Jensen ◽  
Vincent Larraillet ◽  
Kevin Lin ◽  
Thomas Patapoff ◽  
...  

Crystallographic evidence suggests that the pH-dependent affinity of IgG molecules for the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) receptor primarily arises from salt bridges involving IgG histidine residues, resulting in moderate affinity at mildly acidic conditions. However, this view does not explain the diversity in affinity found in IgG variants, such as the YTE mutant (M252Y,S254T,T256E), which increases affinity to FcRn by up to 10×. Here we compare hydrogen exchange measurements at pH 7.0 and pH 5.5 with and without FcRn bound with surface plasmon resonance estimates of dissociation constants and FcRn affinity chromatography. The combination of experimental results demonstrates that differences between an IgG and its cognate YTE mutant vary with their pH-sensitive dynamics prior to binding FcRn. The conformational dynamics of these two molecules are nearly indistinguishable upon binding FcRn. We present evidence that pH-induced destabilization in the CH2/3 domain interface of IgG increases binding affinity by breaking intramolecular H-bonds and increases side-chain adaptability in sites that form intermolecular contacts with FcRn. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of pH-dependent affinity in IgG-FcRn interactions and exemplify the important and often ignored role of intrinsic conformational dynamics in a protein ligand, to dictate affinity for biologically important receptors.


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