Hsf1 activation by proteotoxic stress requires concurrent protein synthesis

Heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1) activation is responsible for increasing the abundance of protein folding chaperones and degradation machinery in response to proteotoxic conditions that give rise to misfolded or aggregated proteins. Here, we systematically explored the link between concurrent protein synthesis and proteotoxic stress in the budding yeast, S. cerevisiae. Consistent with prior work, inhibiting protein synthesis before inducing proteotoxic stress prevents Hsf1 activation, which we demonstrated across a broad array of stresses and validate using orthogonal means of blocking protein synthesis. However, other stress-dependent transcription pathways remained activatable under conditions of translation inhibition. Titrating the protein denaturant ethanol to a higher concentration results in Hsf1 activation in the absence of translation, suggesting extreme protein folding stress can induce proteotoxicity independent of protein synthesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate this connection under physiological conditions where protein synthesis occurs naturally at reduced rates. We find that disrupting the assembly or subcellular localization of newly synthesized proteins is sufficient to activate Hsf1. Thus, new proteins appear to be especially sensitive to proteotoxic conditions, and we propose that their aggregation may represent the bulk of the signal that activates Hsf1 in the wake of these insults.

RNA Isolation Protocol from Cells and Tissues

The preparation of intact ribonucleic acid is difficult because of the action of nucleases, which are liberated upon tissue homogenisation. In many cells, high concentrations of the ribonucleases are reserved in the secretory granules and upon disruption of the cell, they get mixed with the RNA and lead to its degradation. Guanidinium chloride and thiocyanate are potent chaotropic agents that reduce hydrophobic interactions and disrupt protein tertiary structures, disassociate proteinnucleic acid complexes and disintegrate cellular structures. Guanidinium thiocyanate is especially strong protein denaturant because both the cation and anion disrupt the hydrophobic bonds between the amino acid side chains. RNA usually binds to proteins within a cell and this agent disassociates the nucleoprotein complex, without disrupting RNA structure. Thus RNA can be obtained by using these agents, after homogenisation and low-speed centrifugation and precipitated with ethanol. The protocol below explains the stepwise isolation of total RNA from cells and tissues using TRIzol reagent which is the mono-phasic solution of phenol and guanidine thiocyanate.

Effects of Arginine on Multimodal Chromatography: Experiments and Simulations

Multimodal or mixed-mode chromatography can be used to separate various proteins, including antibodies. The separation quality and efficiency have been improved by the addition of solutes, especially arginine. This review summarizes the mechanism underlying the effects of arginine on protein elution in multimodal chromatography with neutral, anionic or cationic resin ligands; the mechanism has been investigated using experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. Arginine is effective in facilitating protein elution compared to salts and protein denaturants such as guanidine and urea. The unique elution effect of arginine can be explained by the interplay among arginine, proteins and the resin ligands. Arginine exhibits multiple binding modes for the ligands and further affinity for protein aromatic residues through its guanidinium group. These properties make arginine versatile for protein elution in multimodal chromatography. Taking into account that arginine is an aggregation suppressor for proteins but not a protein denaturant, arginine is a promising protein-eluting reagent for multimodal chromatography.

Can 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol be an efficient protein denaturant than methanol and ethanol under thermal stress?

We report the heterogeneous unfolding phenomenon of a small protein Chymotrypsin Inhibitor 2 in various concentrations of methanol, ethanol and TFE solutions by performing atomistic molecular dynamics simulation studies. Our study reveals that the unfolding phenomenon of CI2 under thermal stress majorly depends on the concentration and the nature of the alcohol.

Controllable exfoliation of natural silk fibers into nanofibrils by protein denaturant deep eutectic solvent: nanofibrous strategy for multifunctional membranes

A protein denaturant deep eutectic solvent to exfoliate natural silk fibers into nanofibrils for multifunctional membranes with enhanced properties.

Hydration of guanidinium depends on its local environment

Infrared spectroscopy of guanidinium confined in gaseous nanodrops shows hydration depends on local environment and lends new insights into its effectiveness as a protein denaturant.

Water-mediated interactions between trimethylamine-N-oxide and urea

The osmoprotectant trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) interacts with the protein denaturant urea via the hydrogen-bonded water network.