scholarly journals Detecting anisotropic segmental dynamics in disordered proteins by cross-correlated spin relaxation

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 557-569
Author(s):  
Clemens Kauffmann ◽  
Irene Ceccolini ◽  
Georg Kontaxis ◽  
Robert Konrat
Keyword(s):  
Spin Relaxation ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Multiple Quantum ◽  
Ensemble Averaging ◽  
Segmental Dynamics ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Folded Proteins ◽  
Spin Pairs

Abstract. Among the numerous contributions of Geoffrey Bodenhausen to NMR spectroscopy, his developments in the field of spin-relaxation methodology and theory will definitely have a long lasting impact. Starting with his seminal contributions to the excitation of multiple-quantum coherences, he and his group thoroughly investigated the intricate relaxation properties of these “forbidden fruits” and developed experimental techniques to reveal the relevance of previously largely ignored cross-correlated relaxation (CCR) effects, as “the essential is invisible to the eyes”. Here we consider CCR within the challenging context of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and emphasize its potential and relevance for the studies of structural dynamics of IDPs in the future years to come. Conventionally, dynamics of globularly folded proteins are modeled and understood as deviations from otherwise rigid structures tumbling in solution. However, with increasing protein flexibility, as observed for IDPs, this apparent dichotomy between structure and dynamics becomes blurred. Although complex dynamics and ensemble averaging might impair the extraction of mechanistic details even further, spin relaxation uniquely encodes a protein's structural memory. Due to significant methodological developments, such as high-dimensional non-uniform sampling techniques, spin relaxation in IDPs can now be monitored in unprecedented resolution. Not embedded within a rigid globular fold, conventional 15N spin probes might not suffice to capture the inherently local nature of IDP dynamics. To better describe and understand possible segmental motions of IDPs, we propose an experimental approach to detect the signature of anisotropic segmental dynamics by quantifying cross-correlated spin relaxation of individual 15N1HN and 13C′13Cα spin pairs. By adapting Geoffrey Bodenhausen's symmetrical reconversion principle to obtain zero frequency spectral density values, we can define and demonstrate more sensitive means to characterize anisotropic dynamics in IDPs.

scholarly journals Detecting segmental anisotropic diffusion in disordered proteins by cross-correlated spin-relaxation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens Kauffmann ◽  
Irene Ceccolini ◽  
Georg Kontaxis ◽  
Robert Konrat
Keyword(s):  
Spin Relaxation ◽  
Anisotropic Diffusion ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Multiple Quantum ◽  
Ensemble Averaging ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Folded Proteins ◽  
Spin Pairs

Abstract. Among the numerous contributions of Geoffrey Bodenhausen to NMR spectroscopy his developments in the field of spin-relaxation methodology and theory will definitely have a long lasting impact. Starting with his seminal contributions to the excitation of multiple-quantum coherences he and his group thoroughly investigated the intricate relaxation properties of these “forbidden fruits” and developed experimental techniques to reveal the relevance of previously largely ignored cross-correlated relaxation (CCR) effects, as “the essential is invisible to the eyes”. Here we want to discuss CCR within the challenging context of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and emphasize its potential and relevance for the studies of structural dynamics of IDPs in the future years to come. Conventionally, dynamics of globularly folded proteins are modeled and understood as deviations from otherwise rigid structures tumbling in solution. However, with increasing protein flexibility, as observed for IDPs, this apparent dichotomy between structure and dynamics becomes blurred. Although complex dynamics and ensemble averaging might impair the extraction of mechanistic details even further, spin-relaxation uniquely encodes a protein’s structural memory, i.e. the temporal persistence of concerted motions and structural arrangements. Due to significant methodological developments, such as high-dimensional non-uniform sampling techniques, spin-relaxation in IDPs can now be monitored in unprecedented resolution. Not embedded within a rigid globular fold, conventional 15N spin probes might not suffice to capture the inherently local nature of IDP dynamics. To better describe and understand possible segmental motions of IDPs, we propose an experimental approach to detect the signature of diffusion anisotropy by quantifying cross-correlated spin relaxation of individual 15N1HN and 13C'13Cα spin pairs. By adapting Geoffrey Bodenhausen’s symmetrical reconversion principle to obtain zero frequency spectral density values we can define and demonstrate more sensitive means to characterize segmental anisotropic diffusion in IDPs.

scholarly journals Co-Evolution of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins with Folded Partners Witnessed by Evolutionary Couplings

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 3315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Pancsa ◽  
Fruzsina Zsolyomi ◽  
Peter Tompa
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Cellular Interaction ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Protein Residues ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Folded Proteins

Although improved strategies for the detection and analysis of evolutionary couplings (ECs) between protein residues already enable the prediction of protein structures and interactions, they are mostly restricted to conserved and well-folded proteins. Whereas intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are central to cellular interaction networks, due to the lack of strict structural constraints, they undergo faster evolutionary changes than folded domains. This makes the reliable identification and alignment of IDP homologs difficult, which led to IDPs being omitted in most large-scale residue co-variation analyses. By preforming a dedicated analysis of phylogenetically widespread bacterial IDP–partner interactions, here we demonstrate that partner binding imposes constraints on IDP sequences that manifest in detectable interprotein ECs. These ECs were not detected for interactions mediated by short motifs, rather for those with larger IDP–partner interfaces. Most identified coupled residue pairs reside close (<10 Å) to each other on the interface, with a third of them forming multiple direct atomic contacts. EC-carrying interfaces of IDPs are enriched in negatively charged residues, and the EC residues of both IDPs and partners preferentially reside in helices. Our analysis brings hope that IDP–partner interactions difficult to study could soon be successfully dissected through residue co-variation analysis.

scholarly journals Structural and Dynamical Order of a Disordered Protein: Molecular Insights into Conformational Switching of PAGE4 at the Systems Level

Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingcheng Lin ◽  
Prakash Kulkarni ◽  
Federico Bocci ◽  
Nicholas Schafer ◽  
Susmita Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Structural Plasticity ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Related Disorder ◽  
Structural Ordering ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Collective Motions ◽  
Folded Proteins

Folded proteins show a high degree of structural order and undergo (fairly constrained) collective motions related to their functions. On the other hand, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), while lacking a well-defined three-dimensional structure, do exhibit some structural and dynamical ordering, but are less constrained in their motions than folded proteins. The larger structural plasticity of IDPs emphasizes the importance of entropically driven motions. Many IDPs undergo function-related disorder-to-order transitions driven by their interaction with specific binding partners. As experimental techniques become more sensitive and become better integrated with computational simulations, we are beginning to see how the modest structural ordering and large amplitude collective motions of IDPs endow them with an ability to mediate multiple interactions with different partners in the cell. To illustrate these points, here, we use Prostate-associated gene 4 (PAGE4), an IDP implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) as an example. We first review our previous efforts using molecular dynamics simulations based on atomistic AWSEM to study the conformational dynamics of PAGE4 and how its motions change in its different physiologically relevant phosphorylated forms. Our simulations quantitatively reproduced experimental observations and revealed how structural and dynamical ordering are encoded in the sequence of PAGE4 and can be modulated by different extents of phosphorylation by the kinases HIPK1 and CLK2. This ordering is reflected in changing populations of certain secondary structural elements as well as in the regularity of its collective motions. These ordered features are directly correlated with the functional interactions of WT-PAGE4, HIPK1-PAGE4 and CLK2-PAGE4 with the AP-1 signaling axis. These interactions give rise to repeated transitions between (high HIPK1-PAGE4, low CLK2-PAGE4) and (low HIPK1-PAGE4, high CLK2-PAGE4) cell phenotypes, which possess differing sensitivities to the standard PCa therapies, such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We argue that, although the structural plasticity of an IDP is important in promoting promiscuous interactions, the modulation of the structural ordering is important for sculpting its interactions so as to rewire with agility biomolecular interaction networks with significant functional consequences.

scholarly journals Expanding the proteome: disordered and alternatively folded proteins

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Jane Dyson
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Protein Sequences ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Characteristic Functions ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Folded Proteins

AbstractProteins provide much of the scaffolding for life, as well as undertaking a variety of essential catalytic reactions. These characteristic functions have led us to presuppose that proteins are in general functional only when well structured and correctly folded. As we begin to explore the repertoire of possible protein sequences inherent in the human and other genomes, two stark facts that belie this supposition become clear: firstly, the number of apparent open reading frames in the human genome is significantly smaller than appears to be necessary to code for all of the diverse proteins in higher organisms, and secondly that a significant proportion of the protein sequences that would be coded by the genome would not be expected to form stable three-dimensional (3D) structures. Clearly the genome must include coding for a multitude of alternative forms of proteins, some of which may be partly or fully disordered or incompletely structured in their functional states. At the same time as this likelihood was recognized, experimental studies also began to uncover examples of important protein molecules and domains that were incompletely structured or completely disordered in solution, yet remained perfectly functional. In the ensuing years, we have seen an explosion of experimental and genome-annotation studies that have mapped the extent of the intrinsic disorder phenomenon and explored the possible biological rationales for its widespread occurrence. Answers to the question ‘why would a particular domain need to be unstructured?’ are as varied as the systems where such domains are found. This review provides a survey of recent new directions in this field, and includes an evaluation of the role not only of intrinsically disordered proteins but also of partially structured and highly dynamic members of the disorder–order continuum.

scholarly journals Structural Proteomics Methods to Interrogate the Conformations and Dynamics of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Beveridge ◽  
Antonio N. Calabrese
Keyword(s):  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Structural Proteomics ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Folded Proteins ◽  
Structural Mass Spectrometry ◽  
And Function ◽  
Structural Mass

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and regions of intrinsic disorder (IDRs) are abundant in proteomes and are essential for many biological processes. Thus, they are often implicated in disease mechanisms, including neurodegeneration and cancer. The flexible nature of IDPs and IDRs provides many advantages, including (but not limited to) overcoming steric restrictions in binding, facilitating posttranslational modifications, and achieving high binding specificity with low affinity. IDPs adopt a heterogeneous structural ensemble, in contrast to typical folded proteins, making it challenging to interrogate their structure using conventional tools. Structural mass spectrometry (MS) methods are playing an increasingly important role in characterizing the structure and function of IDPs and IDRs, enabled by advances in the design of instrumentation and the development of new workflows, including in native MS, ion mobility MS, top-down MS, hydrogen-deuterium exchange MS, crosslinking MS, and covalent labeling. Here, we describe the advantages of these methods that make them ideal to study IDPs and highlight recent applications where these tools have underpinned new insights into IDP structure and function that would be difficult to elucidate using other methods.

scholarly journals Depletion interactions modulate the binding between disordered proteins in crowded environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (24) ◽  
pp. 13480-13489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Zosel ◽  
Andrea Soranno ◽  
Karin J. Buholzer ◽  
Daniel Nettels ◽  
Benjamin Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Dissociation Kinetics ◽  
Cellular Targets ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Folded Proteins ◽  
Depletion Interactions

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) abound in cellular regulation. Their interactions are often transitory and highly sensitive to salt concentration and posttranslational modifications. However, little is known about the effect of macromolecular crowding on the interactions of IDPs with their cellular targets. Here, we investigate the influence of crowding on the interaction between two IDPs that fold upon binding, with polyethylene glycol as a crowding agent. Single-molecule spectroscopy allows us to quantify the effects of crowding on a comprehensive set of observables simultaneously: the equilibrium stability of the complex, the association and dissociation kinetics, and the microviscosity, which governs translational diffusion. We show that a quantitative and coherent explanation of all observables is possible within the framework of depletion interactions if the polymeric nature of IDPs and crowders is incorporated based on recent theoretical developments. The resulting integrated framework can also rationalize important functional consequences, for example, that the interaction between the two IDPs is less enhanced by crowding than expected for folded proteins of the same size.

scholarly journals Affinity of IDPs to their targets is modulated by ion-specific changes in kinetics and residual structure

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (37) ◽  
pp. 9882-9887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basile I. M. Wicky ◽  
Sarah L. Shammas ◽  
Jane Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Marginal Stability ◽  
Residual Structure ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Folded Proteins ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Ion Profiles

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are characterized by a lack of defined structure. Instead, they populate ensembles of rapidly interconverting conformations with marginal structural stabilities. Changes in solution conditions such as temperature and crowding agents consequently affect IDPs more than their folded counterparts. Here we reveal that the residual structure content of IDPs is modulated both by ionic strength and by the type of ions present in solution. We show that these ion-specific structural changes result in binding affinity shifts of up to sixfold, which happen through alteration of both association and dissociation rates. These effects follow the Hofmeister series, but unlike the well-established effects on the stability of folded proteins, they already occur at low, hypotonic concentrations of salt. We attribute this sensitivity to the marginal stability of IDPs, which could have physiological implications given the role of IDPs in signaling, the asymmetric ion profiles of different cellular compartments, and the role of ions in biology.

Interpretation of biomolecular NMR spin relaxation parametersThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this special issue entitled “Canadian Society of Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology 52nd Annual Meeting — Protein Folding: Principles and Diseases” and has undergone the Journal's usual peer review process.

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Reddy ◽  
Jan K. Rainey
Keyword(s):  
Spin Relaxation ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Nmr Relaxation ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Density Mapping ◽  
Model Free ◽  
Relaxation Experiments ◽  
Nmr Spin Relaxation

Biomolecular nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin relaxation experiments provide exquisite information on the picosecond to nanosecond timescale motions of bond vectors. Spin–lattice (T1) and spin–spin (T2) relaxation times and the steady-state nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) are the first set of parameters extracted from typical 15N or 13C NMR relaxation experiments. Therefore, verifying that T1, T2, and NOE are consistent with theoretical predictions is an important step before carrying out the more detailed model-free and reduced spectral density mapping analyses commonly employed. In this mini-review, we discuss the essential motional parameters used to describe biomolecular dynamics in the context of a variety of examples of folded and intrinsically disordered proteins and peptides in aqueous and membrane mimetic environments. Estimates of these parameters can be used as input for an online interface, introduced herein, allowing plotting of trends of T1, T2, and NOE with magnetic field strength. The plots may serve as a first-check to the spectroscopist preparing to embark on a detailed NMR relaxation analysis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document