Impaired Chaperone Activity of Human Heat Shock Protein Hsp27 Site‐Specifically Modified with Argpyrimidine

Non‐enzymatic posttranslational modifications (nPTMs) affect at least ～30 % of human proteins, but our understanding of their impact on protein structure and function is limited. Studies of nPTMs are difficult because many modifications are not included in common chemical libraries or protein expression systems and should be introduced site‐specifically. Herein, we probed the effect of the nPTM argpyrimidine on the structure and function of human protein Hsp27, which acquires argpyrimidine at residue 188 in vivo. We developed a synthetic approach to an argpyrimidine building block, which we then incorporated at position 188 of Hsp27 through protein semisynthesis. This modification did not affect the protein secondary structure, but perturbed the oligomeric assembly and impaired chaperone activity. Our work demonstrates that protein function can be altered by a single nPTM and opens up a new area of investigation only accessible by methods that allow site‐selective protein modification.     

1H‐Detected Solid‐State NMR Studies of Water‐Inaccessible Proteins In Vitro and In Situ

¹H detection can significantly improve solid‐state NMR spectral sensitivity and thereby allows studying more complex proteins. However, the common prerequisite for ¹H detection is the introduction of exchangeable protons in otherwise deuterated proteins, which has thus far significantly hampered studies of partly water‐inaccessible proteins, such as membrane proteins. Herein, we present an approach that enables high‐resolution ¹H‐detected solid‐state NMR (ssNMR) studies of water‐inaccessible proteins, and that even works in highly complex environments such as cellular surfaces. In particular, the method was applied to study the K⁺ channel KcsA in liposomes and in situ in native bacterial cell membranes. We used our data for a dynamic analysis, and we show that the selectivity filter, which is responsible for ion conduction and highly conserved in K⁺ channels, undergoes pronounced molecular motion. We expect this approach to open new avenues for biomolecular ssNMR.     

Effects of Visible‐Light Irradiation of Protoporphyrin IX on the Self‐Assembly of Tubulin Heterodimers

The formation and the effects of laser irradiation of the complex formed by protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and tubulin was investigated. We have used tubulin as a model protein to investigate whether docked photoactive ligands can affect the structure and function of polypeptides upon exposure to visible light. We observed that laser irradiation in the Soret band prompts bleaching of the PPIX, which is accompanied by a sharp decrease in the intensity and average fluorescence lifetime of the protein (dominated by the four tryptophan residues of the tubulin monomer). The kinetics indicate non‐trivial effects and suggest that the photosensitization of the PPIX bound to tubulin prompts structural alterations of the protein. These modifications were also observed through changes in the energy transfer between Trp residues and PPIX. The results suggest that laser irradiation produces localized partial unfolding of tubulin and that the changes prompt modification of the formation of microtubules in vitro. Measurements of singlet oxygen formation were inconclusive in determining whether the changes are prompted by reactive oxygen species or other excited state mechanisms.     

Approaches toward High‐Mannose‐Type Glycan Libraries

Asparagine‐linked (N‐linked) sugar chains are widely found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which has attracted renewed attention because of its participation in the glycoprotein quality control process. In the ER, newly formed glycoproteins are properly folded to higher‐order structures by the action of a variety of lectin chaperones and processing enzymes and are transported into the Golgi, while terminally misfolded glycoproteins are carried into the cytosol for degradation. A group of proteins related to this system are known to recognize subtle differences in the high‐mannose‐type oligosaccharide structures of glycoproteins; however, their molecular foundations are still unclear. In order to gain a more precise understanding, our group has established a strategy for the systematic synthesis of high‐mannose‐type glycans. More recently, we have developed “top‐down” chemoenzymatic approaches that allow expeditious access to theoretically all types of high‐mannose glycans. This strategy comprehensively delivered 37 high‐mannose‐type glycans, including G1M9–M3 glycans, and opened up the possibility of the elucidation of structure–function relationships with a series of high‐mannose‐type glycans.     

高压NMR在蛋白质结构和动力学研究中的应用

与温度一样,压力是基本的热力学变量.蛋白质在溶液中是多种构象的热力学平衡体.在不同的温度和压力等条件下,蛋白质包括折叠构象、变性构象以及各种中间体在内的不同构象的存在频率各不相同.当用压力作为扰动时,由于这些构象的偏摩尔体积不同,它们的存在频率便会因而发生变化,加压可将平衡向具有较小偏摩尔体积的方向移动.因此,利用高压核磁共振(NMR)技术,不仅可以研究高压对蛋白质结构和动力学的影响,还可以通过改变压力,在更为广泛的构象空间研究蛋白质结构和动力学.例如,利用平衡体系在加压时向体积小的构象方向移动这一特性,能够对在常压下因其存在频率低而难于检测、但在高压下因其体积小而存在频率增加了的构象进行深入研究,而这些构象往往与蛋白质的功能密切相关.该篇综述首先介绍了高压在蛋白质科学研究中的历史、有关概念和高压NMR技术;其次,结合实例,阐述高压NMR技术在蛋白质结构、折叠以及动力学研究中的应用;最后,对高压NMR技术在蛋白质研究中的应用前景进行展望.