The propagation of binding interactions to remote sites in proteins: analysis of the binding of the monoclonal antibody D1.3 to lysozyme. (33/2376)

The interaction of a ligand with a protein occurs at a local site (the binding site) and involves only a few residues; however, the effects of that interaction are often propagated to remote locations. The chain of events initiated by binding provides the basis for fundamental biological phenomena such as allosterism, signal transduction, and structural-stability modification. In this paper, a structure-based statistical thermodynamic approach is presented and used to predict the propagation of the stabilization effects triggered by the binding of the monoclonal antibody D1.3 to hen egg white lysozyme. Previously, Williams et al. [Williams, D. C., Benjamin, D. C., Poljak, R. J. & Rule, G. S. (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 257, 866-876] showed that the binding of this antibody affects the stability of hen egg white lysozyme and that the binding effects propagate to a selected number of residues at remote locations from the binding epitope. In this paper, we show that this phenomenon can be predicted from structure. The formalism presented here permits the identification of the structural path followed by cooperative interactions that originate at the binding site. It is shown that an important condition for the propagation of binding effects to distal regions is the presence of a significant fraction of residues with low structural stability in the uncomplexed binding site. A survey of protein structures indicates that many binding sites have a dual character and are defined by regions of high and low structural stabilities. The low-stability regions might be involved in the transmission of binding information to other regions in the protein.  (+info)

Stabilization of DNA triple helices by a series of mono- and disubstituted amidoanthraquinones. (34/2376)

We have used quantitative DNase I footprinting to measure the relative affinities of four disubstituted and two monosubstituted amidoanthraquinone compounds for intermolecular DNA triplexes, and have examined how the position of the attached base-functionalized substituents affects their ability to stabilize DNA triplexes. All four isomeric disubstituted derivatives examined stabilize DNA triplexes at micromolar or lower concentrations. Of the compounds studied the 2,7-disubstituted amidoanthraquinone displayed the greatest triplex affinity. The order of triplex affinity for the other disubstituted ligands decreases in the order 2,7 > 1,8 = 1,5 > 2,6, with the equivalent monosubstituted compounds being at least an order of magnitude less efficient. The 1,5-disubstituted derivative also shows some interaction with duplex DNA. These results have been confirmed by molecular modelling studies, which provide a rational basis for the structure-activity relationships. These suggest that, although all of the compounds bind through an intercalative mode, the 2,6, 2,7 and 1,5 disubstituted isomers bind with their two side groups occupying adjacent triplex grooves, in contrast with the 1,8 isomer which is positioned with both side groups in the same triplex groove.  (+info)

Calcium-dependent properties of CIB binding to the integrin alphaIIb cytoplasmic domain and translocation to the platelet cytoskeleton. (35/2376)

The alphaIIbbeta3 integrin receives signals in agonist-activated platelets, resulting in its conversion to an active conformation that binds fibrinogen, thereby mediating platelet aggregation. Fibrinogen binding to alphaIIbbeta3 subsequently induces a cascade of intracellular signalling events. The molecular mechanisms of this bi-directional alphaIIbbeta3-mediated signalling are unknown but may involve the binding of proteins to the integrin cytoplasmic domains. We reported previously the sequence of a novel 22-kDa, EF-hand-containing, protein termed CIB (calcium- and integrin-binding protein) that interacts specifically with the alphaIIb cytoplasmic domain in the yeast two-hybrid system. Further analysis of numerous tissues and cell lines indicated that CIB mRNA and protein are widely expressed. In addition, isothermal titration calorimetry indicated that CIB binds to an alphaIIb cytoplasmic-domain peptide in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, with moderate affinity (K(d), 700 nM) and 1:1 stoichiometry. In aggregated platelets, endogenous CIB and alphaIIbbeta3 translocate to the Triton X-100-insoluble cytoskeleton in a parallel manner, demonstrating that the cellular localization of CIB is regulated, potentially by alphaIIbbeta3. Thus CIB may contribute to integrin-related functions by mechanisms involving Ca(2+)-modulated binding to the alphaIIb cytoplasmic domain and changes in intracellular distribution.  (+info)

Homing in on the role of transition metals in the HNH motif of colicin endonucleases. (36/2376)

The cytotoxic domain of the bacteriocin colicin E9 (the E9 DNase) is a nonspecific endonuclease that must traverse two membranes to reach its cellular target, bacterial DNA. Recent structural studies revealed that the active site of colicin DNases encompasses the HNH motif found in homing endonucleases, and bound within this motif a single transition metal ion (either Zn(2+) or Ni(2+)) the role of which is unknown. In the present work we find that neither Zn(2+) nor Ni(2+) is required for DNase activity, which instead requires Mg(2+) ions, but binding transition metals to the E9 DNase causes subtle changes to both secondary and tertiary structure. Spectroscopic, proteolytic, and calorimetric data show that, accompanying the binding of 1 eq of Zn(2+), Ni(2+), or Co(2+), the thermodynamic stability of the domain increased substantially, and that the equilibrium dissociation constant for Zn(2+) was less than or equal to nanomolar, while that for Co(2+) and Ni (2+) was micromolar. Our data demonstrate that the transition metal is not essential for colicin DNase activity but rather serves a structural role. We speculate that the HNH motif has been adapted for use by endonuclease colicins because of its involvement in DNA recognition and because removal of the bound metal ion destabilizes the DNase domain, a likely prerequisite for its translocation across bacterial membranes.  (+info)

Inhibitor peptide SNP-1 binds to a soluble form of BST-1/CD157 at a 2:2 stoichiometry. (37/2376)

Recently we have identified a 15-mer peptide, SNP-1, by a random phage library that can bind to bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (BST-1)/CD157 [Sato, A., Yamamoto, S., Ishihara, K., Hirano, T. & Jingami, H. (1999) Biochem. J. 337, 491-496]. SNP-1 inhibits BST-1 ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity uncompetitively with a Ki value of 180 +/- 40 nM. In this study we analysed biophysically the SNP-1 binding to a soluble form of BST-1 (sBST-1). Equilibrium binding data of wild-type SNP-1 from surface plasmon resonance studies gave a Kd value of 500 +/- 35 nM. Titration calorimetry analysis showed that the binding reaction is exothermic at 20 degrees C. The values of Kd = 211 nM, enthalpy change, DeltaH = -18.68 kcal.mol-1, and saturated molar ratio of bound SNP-1 per sBST-1, N = 0.8 mol.mol-1 were obtained. On the basis of the molecular masses of SNP-1 and sBST-1 calculated by analytical ultracentrifugation, the stoichiometry of the binding was determined to be 2 : 2. Electron microscopy also revealed the dimer form of sBST-1. To delineate the core residue of SNP-1 responsible for binding, each amino acid residue has been replaced by alanine. A region from amino acid residues 7-12 appeared to be critical for the SNP-1 binding to sBST-1. The substitution of the first residue, His, to Ala led to a reduction in binding, suggesting that the N-terminal residue is also crucial.  (+info)

Structure-function relationships in glucoamylases encoded by variant Saccharomycopsis fibuligera genes. (38/2376)

The mutation Gly467-->Ser in Glu glucoamylase was designed to investigate differences between two highly homologous wild-type Saccharomycopsis fibuligera Gla and Glu glucoamylases. Gly467, localized in the conserved active site region, S5, is replaced by Ser in the Gla glucoamylase. These amino acid residues are the only two known to occupy this position in the elucidated glucoamylase sequences. The data from the kinetic analysis revealed that replacement of Gly467 with Ser in Glu glucoamylase decreased the kcat towards all substrates tested to values comparable with those of the Gla enzyme. Moreover, the mutant glucoamylase appeared to be less stable compared to the wild-type Glu glucoamylase with respect to thermal unfolding. Microcalorimetric titration studies of the interaction with the inhibitor acarbose indicated differences in the binding between Gla and Glu enzymes. The Gla glucoamylase, although less active, binds acarbose stronger (Ka congruent with 10(13).M(-1)) than the Glu enzyme (Ka congruent with 10(12).M(-1)). In all enzymes studied, the binding of acarbose was clearly driven by enthalpy, with a slightly favorable entropic contribution. The binding of another glucoamylase inhibitor, 1-deoxynojirimycin, was about 8-9 orders of magnitude weaker (Ka congruent with 10(4).M(-1)) than that of acarbose. From comparison of kinetic parameters for the nonglycosylated and glycosylated enzymes it can be deduced that the glycosylation does not play a critical role in enzymatic activity. However, results from differential scanning calorimetry demonstrate an important role of the carbohydrate moiety in the thermal stability of glucoamylase.  (+info)

Recent advances from application of doubly labeled water to measurement of human energy expenditure. (39/2376)

The doubly labeled water (DLW) method was developed 50 years ago, but nearly 40 years passed before it became a major tool for human nutrition research. Its use has grown dramatically, however, since the first human applications. The DLW method is now the preferred method for determining energy requirements of healthy and clinical populations. The method has been applied extensively to the study of the growing problem of obesity in order to determine the role of energy expenditure and physical activity in weight control. Finally, DLW has provided a new means of validating methods for assessing dietary intake. The accuracy and noninvasive nature of the DLW method makes it ideal for the study of human energy metabolism.  (+info)

Junctional amino acids determine the maturation pathway of an antibody. (40/2376)

We found that two distinct antibody maturation pathways exist in the immune response of C57BL/6 mice to (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl and that the junctional amino acid introduced by a process far preceding somatic hypermutation determined the pathway of affinity maturation. Antibodies belonging to each pathway clearly separated into two separate branches of a phylogenic tree. We also constructed a three-dimensional fitness landscape for antibody evolution by introducing the association constants of the antibodies into the phylogenic tree as the third axis, allowing us to comprehend the significance of junctional diversity in the "evolvability" of antibodies. Thermodynamic analyses of the antigen-antibody interactions suggested that a high conformational versatility in the antigen-combining site allows for the enhanced evolvability of antibodies.  (+info)