NMR spectroscopic changes as a function of pH in solutions of the pheromone-binding protein of Bombyx mori (BmPBP) show that BmPBP undergoes a conformational transition between pH 4.9 and 6.0. At pH below 4.9 there is a single “acid form” (A), and a homogeneous “basic form” (B) exists at pH above 6.0. Between pH 5 and 6, BmPBP exists as a mixture of A and B in slow exchange on the NMR chemical shift time scale, with the transition midpoint at pH 5.4. The form B has a well-dispersed NMR spectrum, indicating that it represents a more structured, “closed” conformation than form A, which has a significantly narrower chemical shift dispersion. Conformational transitions of the kind observed here may explain heterogeneity reported for a variety of odorant-binding proteins, and it will be of interest to further investigate possible correlations with pH-dependent regulation of ligand binding and release in the biological function of this class of proteins.

Proline peptide group isomerization can result in kinetic barriers in protein folding. In particular, the cis proline peptide conformation at Tyr92–Pro93 of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) has been proposed to be crucial for chain folding initiation. Mutation of this proline-93 to alanine results in an RNase A molecule, P93A, that exhibits unfolding/refolding kinetics consistent with a cis Tyr92–Ala93 peptide group conformation in the folded structure (Dodge RW, Scheraga HA, 1996, Biochemistry 35:1548–1559). Here, we describe the analysis of backbone proton resonance assignments for P93A together with nuclear Overhauser effect data that provide spectroscopic evidence for a type VI β-bend conformation with a cis Tyr92–Ala93 peptide group in the folded structure. This is in contrast to the reported X-ray crystal structure of [Pro93Gly]-RNase A (Schultz LW, Hargraves SR, Klink TA, Raines RT, 1998, Protein Sci 7:1620–1625), in which Tyr92–Gly93 forms a type-II β-bend with a trans peptide group conformation. While a glycine residue at position 93 accommodates a type-II bend (with a positive value of φ93), RNase A molecules with either proline or alanine residues at this position appear to require a cis peptide group with a type-VI β-bend for proper folding. These results support the view that a cis Pro93 conformation is crucial for proper folding of wild-type RNase A.

Structural genomics projects aim to provide an experimental structure or a good model for every protein in all completed genomes. Most of the experimental work for these projects will be directed toward proteins whose fold cannot be readily recognized by simple sequence comparison with proteins of known structure. Based on the history of proteins classified in the SCOP structure database, we expect that only about a quarter of the early structural genomics targets will have a new fold. Among the remaining ones, about half are likely to be evolutionarily related to proteins of known structure, even though the homology could not be readily detected by sequence analysis.

Conserved deamidation of PKA catalytic subunit isozymes Cα and Cβ—more than 25% at Asn2 in vivo in both cases—has been shown to yield Asp2- and isoAsp2-containing isozymes (Jedrzejewski PT, Girod A, Tholey A, König N, Thullner S, Kinzel V, Bossemeyer D, 1998, Protein Sci 7:457–469). Isoaspartate formation in proteins in vivo is indicative of succinimide intermediates involved in both the initial deamidation reaction as well as the “repair” of isoAsp to Asp by the action of protein l-isoaspartyl (d-aspartyl) O-methyl transferase (PIMT). l-Succinimide is prone to racemization to d-succinimide, which may hydrolyze to d-isoAsp- and d-Asp-containing diastereomers with, respectively, no and poor substrate character for PIMT. To analyze native PKA catalytic subunit from cardiac muscle for these isomers the N-terminal tryptic peptides (T1) of the enzyme were analyzed following procedures refined specifically with a set of corresponding synthetic peptides. The methods combined high resolution high-performance liquid chromatography and a new mass spectrometric procedure for the discrimination between Asp- and isoAsp-residues in peptides (Lehmann et al., 2000). The results demonstrate the occurrence of d-isoAsp- and d-Asp-containing T1 fragments in addition to the l-isomers. The small amount of the l-isoAsp isomer, representing only part of the d-isoAsp isomer, and the relatively large amounts of the l-Asp and d-Asp isomers argues for an effective action of PIMT present in cardiac tissue.

The streptococcal pyrogenic toxins A, B, and C (SPEA, SPEB, and SPEC) are responsible for the fever, rash, and other toxicities associated with scarlet fever and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. This role, together with the ubiquity of diseases caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, have prompted structural analyses of SPEA by several groups. Papageorgiou et al. (1999) have recently reported the structure of SPEA crystallized in the absence of zinc. Zinc has been shown to be important in the ability of some staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins to stimulate proliferation of CD4+ T-cells. Since cadmium is more electron dense than zinc and typically binds interchangeably, we grew crystals in the presence of 10 mM CdCl2. Crystals have been obtained in three space groups, and the structure in the P212121 crystal form has been refined to 1.9 Å resolution. The structural analysis revealed an identical tetramer as well as a novel tetrahedral cluster of cadmium in all three crystal forms on a disulfide loop encompassing residues 87–98. No cadmium was bound at the site homologous to the zinc site in staphylococcal enterotoxins C (SECs) despite the high structural homology between SPEA and SECs. Subsequent soaking of crystals grown in the presence of cadmium in 10 mM ZnCl2 showed that zinc binds in this site (indicating it can discriminate between zinc and cadmium ions) using the three ligands (Asp77, His106, and His110) homologous to the SECs plus a fourth ligand (Glu33).

The high accuracy of X-ray analyses at atomic resolution is now able to display subtle deformations from standard geometry of building blocks in proteins. From the analysis of nine ultra-high resolution protein structures, we derived the first experimental evidence that a significant pyramidalization at the main-chain carbonyl carbon atom occurs in proteins. Our findings also show that this pyramidalization is related to the main-chain ψ torsion angle. The carbonyl carbon atoms of residues that adopt αR and extended conformations show a clear preference for positive and negative pyramidalization, respectively. The agreement between our data and those previously obtained from small molecule structures demonstrates that carbon pyramidalization is an intrinsic property of the peptide structure. Although small in magnitude, the pyramidalization is well preserved in the complex folded state of a macromolecular structure that results from the interplay of many different forces. In addition, this property of the peptide group may have interesting implications for the enzymatic reactions involving the carbonyl carbon atoms.

Methylene is one of, if not the, most reactive organic chemical known. It has a very low specificity, which makes it essentially useless for synthesis, but suggests a possible role in protein footprinting with special importance in labeling solvent accessible nonpolar areas, identifying ligand binding sites, and outlining interaction areas on protomers that form homo or hetero oligomers in cellular assemblies. The singlet species is easily and conveniently formed by photolysis of diazirine. The reactions of interest are insertion into C-H bonds and addition to multiple bonds, both forming strong covalent bonds and stable compounds. Reaction with proteins and peptides is reported even in aqueous solutions where the vast majority of the reagent is used up in forming methanol. Species containing up to 5 to 10 extra :CH2 groups are easily detected by electrospray mass spectroscopy. In a mixture of a 14 Kd protein and a noninteracting 1.7 Kd peptide, the distribution of mass peaks in the electrospray spectra was close to that expected from random modification of the estimated solvent accessible area for the two molecules. For analysis at the single residue level, quantitation at labeling levels of one 13CH2 group per 10 to 20 kDa of protein appears to be possible with isotope ratio mass spectroscopy. In the absence of reactive solvents, photolysis of diazirine produces oily polymeric species that contain one or two nitrogen atoms, but not more, and are water soluble.

The EF-hand calcium-binding protein S100B has been shown to interact in vitro in a calcium-sensitive manner with many substrates. These potential S100B target proteins have been screened for the preservation of a previously identified consensus sequence across species. The results were compared to known structural and in vitro properties of the proteins to rationalize choices for potential binding partners. Our approach uncovered four oligomeric proteins tubulin (α and β), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), desmin, and vimentin that have conserved regions matching the consensus sequence. In the type III intermediate filament proteins (GFAP, vimentin, and desmin), this region corresponds to a portion of a coiled-coil (helix 2A), the structural element responsible for their assembly. In tubulin, the sequence matches correspond to regions of α and β tubulin found at the αβ tubulin interface. In both cases, these consensus sequence matches provide a logical explanation for in vitro observations that S100B is able to inhibit oligomerization of these proteins.

The importance of unsatisfied hydrogen bonding potential on protein–protein interaction was studied. Two alternate modes of dimerization (conventional and flipped form) of an immunoglobulin light chain variable domain (VL) were previously identified. In the flipped form, interface residue Gln89 would have an unsatisfied hydrogen bonding potential. Removal of this Gln should render the flipped dimer as the more favorable quaternary form. High resolution crystallographic studies of the Q89A and Q89L mutants show, as we predicted, that these proteins indeed form flipped dimers with very similar interfaces. A small cavity is present in the Q89A mutant that is reflected in the ∼100 times lower association constant than found for the Q89L mutant. The association constant of Q89A and Q89L proteins (4 × 106 M−1 and >108 M−1) are 10- and 1,000-fold higher than that of the wild-type protein that forms conventional dimers clearly showing the energetic reasons for the flipped dimer formation.

A novel method for monitoring fibrillogenesis is developed and applied to the amyloidogenic peptide, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). The approach, based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, is complementary to existing assays of fibril formation as it monitors directly the population of precursor rather than product molecules. We are able to monitor fiber formation in two modes: a quenched mode in which fibril formation is halted by dilution into denaturant and a real time mode in which fibril formation is conducted within the capillary of the electrospray source. Central to the method is the observation that fibrillar IAPP does not compromise the ionization of monomeric IAPP. Furthermore, under mild ionization conditions, fibrillar IAPP does not dissociate and contribute to the monomeric signal. Critically, we introduce an internal standard, rat IAPP, for analysis on the mass spectrometer. This standard is sufficiently similar in sequence in that it ionizes identically to human IAPP. Furthermore, the sequence is sufficiently different in that it does not form fibrils and is distinguishable on the basis of mass. Applied to IAPP fibrillogenesis, our technique reveals that precursor consumption in seeded reactions obeys first-order kinetics. Furthermore, a consistent level of monomer persists in both seeded and unseeded experiments after the fibril formation is complete. Given the inherent stability of fibrils, we expect this approach to be applicable to other amyloid systems.

The PSI-BLAST algorithm has been acknowledged as one of the most powerful tools for detecting remote evolutionary relationships by sequence considerations only. This has been demonstrated by its ability to recognize remote structural homologues and by the greatest coverage it enables in annotation of a complete genome. Although recognizing the correct fold of a sequence is of major importance, the accuracy of the alignment is crucial for the success of modeling one sequence by the structure of its remote homologue. Here we assess the accuracy of PSI-BLAST alignments on a stringent database of 123 structurally similar, sequence-dissimilar pairs of proteins, by comparing them to the alignments defined on a structural basis. Each protein sequence is compared to a nonredundant database of the protein sequences by PSI-BLAST. Whenever a pair member detects its pair-mate, the positions that are aligned both in the sequential and structural alignments are determined, and the alignment sensitivity is expressed as the percentage of these positions out of the structural alignment. Fifty-two sequences detected their pair-mates (for 16 pairs the success was bi-directional when either pair member was used as a query). The average percentage of correctly aligned residues per structural alignment was 43.5 ± 2.2%. Other properties of the alignments were also examined, such as the sensitivity vs. specificity and the change in these parameters over consecutive iterations. Notably, there is an improvement in alignment sensitivity over consecutive iterations, reaching an average of 50.9 ± 2.5% within the five iterations tested in the current study.

A search for the occurrence of the rare π-helix was performed with Iditis from the Oxford Molecular Group upon the Protein Data Bank. In 8 of the 10 confirmed crystal structures that harbor the π-helix, its unique conformation has been linked directly to the formation or stabilization of a specific binding site within the protein. In the discussion to follow, the role for each of these eight π-helices will be addressed in regard to protein function. It is clear upon closer examination that the conformation of the π-helix has evolved to provide unique structural features within a variety of proteins.

A sequence variant of human MIP-1α, in which Asp26 has been replaced by Ala, has been chemically modified by the addition of 13C-labeled methyl groups at each of the lysine residues and the N-terminus. The sites of methylation have been verified by a combination of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric experiments and tryptic digestion followed by N-terminal mapping. The effect of the modification on the structure and activity of the protein have been determined by analytical ultra-centrifugation, 13C NMR spectroscopy and receptor binding studies. The results of these experiments suggest that huMIP-1α D26A (BB10010), when present as a dimer, adopts a globular structure, like MCP-3, rather than the elongated or cylindrical structure determined for dimers of huMIP-1β and RANTES.

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of fructan biosynthetic enzymes is still unknown. Here, we have explored folding similarities between reported microbial and plant enzymes that catalyze transfructosylation reactions. A sequence-structure compatibility search using TOPITS, SDP, 3D-PSSM, and SAM-T98 programs identified a β-propeller fold with scores above the confidence threshold that indicate a structurally conserved catalytic domain in fructosyltransferases (FTFs) of diverse origin and substrate specificity. The predicted fold appeared related to that of neuraminidase and sialidase, of glycoside hydrolase families 33 and 34, respectively. The most reliable structural model was obtained using the crystal structure of neuraminidase (Protein Data Bank file: 5nn9) as template, and it is consistent with the location of previously identified functional residues of bacterial levansucrases (Batista et al., 1999; Song & Jacques, 1999). The sequence–sequence analysis presented here reinforces the recent inclusion of fungal and plant FTFs into glycoside hydrolase family 32, and suggests a modified sequence pattern {H-x(2)-[PTV]-x(4)-[LIVMA]-[NSCAYG]-[DE]-P-[NDSC]-[GA]} for this family.

Intrinsic membrane proteins represent a large fraction of the proteins produced by living organisms and perform many crucial functions. Structural and functional characterization of membrane proteins generally requires that they be extracted from the native lipid bilayer and solubilized with a small synthetic amphiphile, for example, a detergent. We describe the development of a small molecule with a distinctive amphiphilic architecture, a “tripod amphiphile,” that solubilizes both bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and bovine rhodopsin (Rho). The polar portion of this amphiphile contains an amide and an amine-oxide; small variations in this polar segment are found to have profound effects on protein solubilization properties. The optimal tripod amphiphile extracts both BR and Rho from the native membrane environments and maintains each protein in a monomeric native-like form for several weeks after delipidation. Tripod amphiphiles are designed to display greater conformational rigidity than conventional detergents, with the long-range goal of promoting membrane protein crystallization. The results reported here represent an important step toward that ultimate goal.

Alan Fersht has revised his classic text Structure and Mechanism (Freeman, 1985) and extended it to include applications of the protein engineering method to characterizing transition states in protein folding and enzyme catalysis. His earlier textbook was so good it scared off possible competitors, and its notable features are preserved in the new text. It provides enough information about techniques to make close connections between discussions of mechanism and actual data. It packs an amazing amount of information and viewpoint into a short space without losing readability. It does not just derive equations, it explains their physical meanings and it aims to develop the reader's physical insight. The assumptions behind an approach are laid out clearly and, when a topic is controversial, the author gives his own viewpoint at the end. The pace of research today is such that few leading scientists find time to write textbooks, and the scientific community is surely grateful to Alan Fersht for revising his. However, as he points out, a main section of the book covering classical enzymology has not been revised.

In the Acknowledgments section that was published in the above reference article (Volume 9, Number 7, 2000, pp. 1282–1293), the wrong PDB ID number was used. The correct ID number is 1F5Y.

The three-dimensional structure of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL complexed to a 25-residue peptide from the death promoting region of Bad was determined using NMR spectroscopy. Although the overall structure is similar to Bcl-xL bound to a 16-residue peptide from the Bak protein (Sattler et al., 1997), the Bad peptide forms additional interactions with Bcl-xL. However, based upon site-directed mutagenesis experiments, these additional contacts do not account for the increased affinity of the Bad 25-mer for Bcl-xL compared to the Bad 16-mer. Rather, the increased helix propensity of the Bad 25-mer is primarily responsible for its greater affinity for Bcl-xL. Based on this observation, a pair of 16-residue peptides were designed and synthesized that were predicted to have a high helix propensity while maintaining the interactions important for complexation with Bcl-xL. Both peptides showed an increase in helix propensity compared to the wild-type and exhibited an enhanced affinity for Bcl-xL.

Quantum-chemical methods are used to shed light on the functional role of residues involved in the resistance of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase against nucleoside-analog drugs. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are carried out for models representing the adduct between the triphosphate substrate and the nucleoside binding site. The triphosphate is considered either deprotonated or protonated at the γ-position. Although the protonated form already experiences large rearrangements in the ps time scale, the fully deprotonated state exhibits a previously unrecognized low-barrier hydrogen bond between Lys65 and γ-phosphate. Absence of this interaction in Lys65→Arg HIV-1 RT might play a prominent role in the resistance of this mutant for nucleoside analogs (Gu Z et al., 1994b, Antimicrob Agents Chemother 38:275–281; Zhang D et al., 1994, Antimicrob Agents Chemother 38:282–287). Water molecules present in the active site, not detected in the X-ray structure, form a complex H-bond network. Among these waters, one may be crucial for substrate recognition as it bridges Gln151 and Arg72 with the β-phosphate. Absence of this stabilizing interaction in Gln151→Met HIV-1 RT mutant may be a key factor for the known drug resistance of this mutant toward dideoxy-type drugs and AZT (Shirasaka T et al., 1995, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92:2398–2402; Iversen AK et al., 1996, J Virol 70:1086–1090).

Recombinant antibodies often contain N-terminal mutations arising from the use of degenerate cloning primer sets and/or the introduction of restriction sites in the framework 1 regions. We studied the effects of such mutations in a recombinant anti-estradiol Fab fragment derived from the hybridoma cell line 57-2. The 5′ ends of the heavy and light chain genes were originally modified to introduce the restriction sites XhoI and SacI, respectively, for cloning purposes. However, the affinity and specificity of the recombinant Fab were lowered compared to the proteolytic Fab′ fragment of the parental hybridoma IgG. Replacing the mutated sites with authentic amino acid coding sequences restored the binding properties as well as increased the bacterial production levels fivefold and 10-fold at 30 and 37 °C, respectively. Local changes in the antigen binding site were probed by determining the affinity constants (Ka) for estradiol and four related steroids. It was found that the mutated heavy chain amino terminus specifically increased the Ka for testosterone whereas the mutated light chain amino terminus decreased the Ka for all of the steroids to the same extent; the heavy and light chain effects were additive. Analysis of a newly determined crystal structure of the authentic Fab 57-2 in complex with estradiol suggests that mutations in the residue 2 in VH, and 2 and 4 in the VL domain were those responsible for the observed effects. Their general roles as structure-determining residues for the CDR3 loops imply that similar effects can occur with other recombinant antibodies as well.