Helical Bundle (helical + bundle)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Important region in the ,-spectrin C -terminus for spectrin tetramer formation

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
Bing-Hao Luo
Abstract: Many hereditary hemolytic anemias are due to spectrin mutations at the C -terminal region of ,-spectrin (the ,C region) that destabilize spectrin tetramer formation. However, little is known about the ,C region of spectrin. We have prepared four recombinant ,-peptides of different lengths from human erythrocyte spectrin, all starting at position 1898 of the C -terminal region, but terminating at position 2070, 2071, 2072 or 2073. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the two peptides terminating at positions 2070 and 2071 did not associate with an N -terminal region ,-peptide (Sp,1,156) in the micromolar range. However, the peptides that terminated at positions 2072 and 2073 associated with the ,-peptide. Circular dichroism results showed that the unassociated helices in both ,- and ,-peptides became associated, presumably to form a helical bundle, for those ,-peptides that formed an ,, complex, but not for those ,-peptides that did not form an ,, complex. In addition, upon association, an increase in the ,-helical content was observed. These results showed that the ,-peptides ending prior to residue 2072 (Thr) would not associate with ,-peptide, and that no helical bundling of the partial domains was observed. Thus, we suggest that the C -terminal segment of ,-spectrin, starting from residue 2073 (Thr), is not critical to spectrin tetramer formation. However, the C -terminal region ending with residue 2072 is important for its association with ,-spectrin in forming tetramers. [source]


The L49F mutation in alpha erythroid spectrin induces local disorder in the tetramer association region: Fluorescence and molecular dynamics studies of free and bound alpha spectrin

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 9 2009
Yuanli Song
Abstract The bundling of the N-terminal, partial domain helix (Helix C,) of human erythroid ,-spectrin (,I) with the C-terminal, partial domain helices (Helices A, and B,) of erythroid ,-spectrin (,I) to give a spectrin pseudo structural domain (triple helical bundle A,B,C,) has long been recognized as a crucial step in forming functional spectrin tetramers in erythrocytes. We have used apparent polarity and Stern,Volmer quenching constants of Helix C, of ,I bound to Helices A, and B, of ,I, along with previous NMR and EPR results, to propose a model for the triple helical bundle. This model was used as the input structure for molecular dynamics simulations for both wild type (WT) and ,I mutant L49F. The simulation output structures show a stable helical bundle for WT, but not for L49F. In WT, four critical interactions were identified: two hydrophobic clusters and two salt bridges. However, in L49F, the region downstream of Helix C, was unable to assume a helical conformation and one critical hydrophobic cluster was disrupted. Other molecular interactions critical to the WT helical bundle were also weakened in L49F, possibly leading to the lower tetramer levels observed in patients with this mutation-induced blood disorder. [source]


Rotational orientation of monomers within a designed homo-oligomer transmembrane helical bundle

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005
Kathleen P. Howard
Abstract A peptide designed to form a homo-oligomeric transmembrane helical bundle was reconstituted into lipid bilayers and studied by using 2H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) with magic angle spinning to confirm that the helical interface corresponds to the interface intended in the design. The peptide belongs to a family of model peptides derived from a membrane-solubilized version of the water-soluble coiled-coil GCN4-P1. The variant studied here contains two asparagines thought to engage in interhelical hydrogen bonding critical to the formation of a stable trimer. For the NMR studies, three different peptides were synthesized, each with one of three consecutive leucines in the transmembrane region deuterium labeled. Prior to NMR data collection, polarized infrared spectroscopy was used to establish that the peptides were reconstituted in lipid bilayers in a transmembrane helical conformation. The 2H NMR line shapes of the three different peptides are consistent with a trimer structure formed by the designed peptide that is stabilized by inter-helical hydrogen bonding of asparagines at positions 7 and 14. [source]


How do helix,helix interactions help determine the folds of membrane proteins?

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 4 2003
Perspectives from the study of homo-oligomeric helical bundles
FRET, fluorescence resonance energy transfer; NBD, 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole; C-14 betaine, N -tetradecyl- N,N -dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate; MF, mole fraction Abstract The final, structure-determining step in the folding of membrane proteins involves the coalescence of preformed transmembrane helices to form the native tertiary structure. Here, we review recent studies on small peptide and protein systems that are providing quantitative data on the interactions that drive this process. Gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) are useful methods for examining the assembly of homo-oligomeric transmembrane helical proteins. These methods have been used to study the assembly of the M2 proton channel from influenza A virus, glycophorin, phospholamban, and several designed membrane proteins,all of which have a single transmembrane helix that is sufficient for association into a transmembrane helical bundle. These systems are being studied to determine the relative thermodynamic contributions of van der Waals interactions, conformational entropy, and polar interactions in the stabilization of membrane proteins. Although the database of thermodynamic information is not yet large, a few generalities are beginning to emerge concerning the energetic differences between membrane and water-soluble proteins: the packing of apolar side chains in the interior of helical membrane proteins plays a smaller, but nevertheless significant, role in stabilizing their structure. Polar, hydrogen-bonded interactions occur less frequently, but, nevertheless, they often provide a strong driving force for folding helix,helix pairs in membrane proteins. These studies are laying the groundwork for the design of sequence motifs that dictate the association of membrane helices. [source]


Structure of the Taz2 domain of p300: insights into ligand binding

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 12 2009
Maria Miller
CBP and its paralog p300 are histone acetyl transferases that regulate gene expression by interacting with multiple transcription factors via specialized domains. The structure of a segment of human p300 protein (residues 1723,1836) corresponding to the extended zinc-binding Taz2 domain has been investigated. The crystal structure was solved by the SAD approach utilizing the anomalous diffraction signal of the bound Zn ions. The structure comprises an atypical helical bundle stabilized by three Zn ions and closely resembles the solution structures determined previously for shorter peptides. Residues 1813,1834 from the current construct form a helical extension of the C-terminal helix and make extensive crystal-contact interactions with the peptide-binding site of Taz2, providing additional insights into the mechanism of the recognition of diverse transactivation domains (TADs) by Taz2. On the basis of these results and molecular modeling, a hypothetical model of the binding of phosphorylated p53 TAD1 to Taz2 has been proposed. [source]


Truncated hemoglobins: trimming the classical ,three-over-three' globin fold to a minimal size

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION, Issue 3 2001
Mario Milani
Abstract Truncated hemoglobins (trHbs) host the heme in a ,two-over-two' ,-helical sandwich which results from extensive editing of the classical ,three-over-three' globin fold. The three-dimensional structure of trHbs is based on four main ,-helices, arranged in a sort of ,-helical bundle composed of two antiparallel helix pairs (B/E and G/H). Most notably, trHbs deviate from the conventional globin fold in that they display an extended loop substituting for the heme proximal F-helix observed in globins. Moreover, since efficient adaptation of a 110,130 amino acid trHb chain to host the porphyrin ring firstly requires specific chain flexibility, trHbs contain three invariant Gly-based motifs. Inspection of the trHb three-dimensional trHb structures shows that an apparent protein cavity or tunnel would connect the protein surface to an inner region very close to the heme distal site. Such a structural feature, never observed before in (non) vertebrate globins, may have substantial implications for ligand diffusion and binding properties in trHbs. © 2001 IUBMB. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [source]


Influence of the hydrophilic face on the folding ability and stability of ,-helix bundles: relevance to the peptide catalytic activity

CHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 3 2000
S.E. Blondelle
Although not the sole feature responsible, the packing of amino acid side chains in the interior of proteins is known to contribute to protein conformational specificity. While a number of amphipathic peptide sequences with optimized hydrophobic domains has been designed to fold into a desired aggregation state, the contribution of the amino acids located on the hydrophilic side of such peptides to the final packing has not been investigated thoroughly. A set of self-aggregating 18-mer peptides designed previously to adopt a high level of ,-helical conformation in benign buffer is used here to evaluate the effect of the nature of the amino acids located on the hydrophilic face on the packing of a four ,-helical bundle. These peptides differ from one another by only one to four amino acid mutations on the hydrophilic face of the helix and share the same hydrophobic core. The secondary and tertiary structures in the presence or absence of denaturants were determined by circular dichroism in the far- and near-UV regions, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Significant differences in folding ability, as well as chemical and thermal stabilities, were found between the peptides studied. In particular, surface salt bridges may form which would increase both the stability and extent of the tertiary structure of the peptides. The structural behavior of the peptides may be related to their ability to catalyze the decarboxylation of oxaloacetate, with peptides that have a well-defined tertiary structure acting as true catalysts. [source]


Lipid bilayers: an essential environment for the understanding of membrane proteins

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue S1 2007
Richard C. Page
Abstract Membrane protein structure and function is critically dependent on the surrounding environment. Consequently, utilizing a membrane mimetic that adequately models the native membrane environment is essential. A range of membrane mimetics are available but none generates a better model of native aqueous, interfacial, and hydrocarbon core environments than synthetic lipid bilayers. Transmembrane ,-helices are very stable in lipid bilayers because of the low water content and low dielectric environment within the bilayer hydrocarbon core that strengthens intrahelical hydrogen bonds and hinders structural rearrangements within the transmembrane helices. Recent evidence from solid-state NMR spectroscopy illustrates that transmembrane ,-helices, both in peptides and full-length proteins, appear to be highly uniform based on the observation of resonance patterns in PISEMA spectra. Here, we quantitate for the first time through simulations what we mean by highly uniform structures. Indeed, helices in transmembrane peptides appear to have backbone torsion angles that are uniform within ± 4° . While individual helices can be structurally stable due to intrahelical hydrogen bonds, interhelical interactions within helical bundles can be weak and nonspecific, resulting in multiple packing arrangements. Some helical bundles have the capacity through their amino acid composition for hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions to stabilize the interhelical conformations and solid-state NMR data is shown here for both of these situations. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is unique among the techniques capable of determining three-dimensional structures of proteins in that it provides the ability to characterize structurally the membrane proteins at very high resolution in liquid crystalline lipid bilayers. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]