Andrew E. Whitten

MULCh: modules for the analysis of small‐angle neutron contrast variation data from biomolecular assemblies

Small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation can fill important gaps in our understanding of biomolecular assemblies, providing constraints that can aid in the construction of molecular models and in subsequent model refinements. This paper describes the implementation of simple tools for analysing neutron contrast variation data, accessible via a user-friendly web-based interface (http://www.mmb.usyd.edu.au/NCVWeb/). There are three modules accessible from the website to analyse neutron contrast variation data from bimolecular complexes. The first module, Contrast, computes neutron contrasts of each component of the complex required by the other two modules; the second module, Rg, analyses the contrast dependence of the radii of gyration to yield information relating to the size and disposition of each component in the complex; and the third, Compost, decomposes the contrast variation series into composite scattering functions, which contain information regarding the shape of each component of the complex, and their orientation with respect to each other.

Cardiac myosin-binding protein C decorates F-actin: Implications for cardiac function

Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C) is an accessory protein of striated muscle sarcomeres that is vital for maintaining regular heart function. Its 4 N-terminal regulatory domains, C0-C1-m-C2 (C0C2), influence actin and myosin interactions, the basic contractile proteins of muscle. Using neutron contrast variation data, we have determined that C0C2 forms a repeating assembly with filamentous actin, where the C0 and C1 domains of C0C2 attach near the DNase I-binding loop and subdomain 1 of adjacent actin monomers. Direct interactions between the N terminus of cMyBP-C and actin thereby provide a mechanism to modulate the contractile cycle by affecting the regulatory state of the thin filament and its ability to interact with myosin.

Evolution of quaternary structure in a homotetrameric enzyme.

Dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) is an essential enzyme in (S)-lysine biosynthesis and an important antibiotic target. All X-ray crystal structures solved to date reveal a homotetrameric enzyme. In order to explore the role of this quaternary structure, dimeric variants of Escherichia coli DHDPS were engineered and their properties were compared to those of the wild-type tetrameric form. X-ray crystallography reveals that the active site is not disturbed when the quaternary structure is disrupted. However, the activity of the dimeric enzymes in solution is substantially reduced, and a tetrahedral adduct of a substrate analogue is observed to be trapped at the active site in the crystal form. Remarkably, heating the dimeric enzymes increases activity. We propose that the homotetrameric structure of DHDPS reduces dynamic fluctuations present in the dimeric forms and increases specificity for the first substrate, pyruvate. By restricting motion in a key catalytic motif, a competing, non-productive reaction with a substrate analogue is avoided. Small-angle X-ray scattering and mutagenesis data, together with a B-factor analysis of the crystal structures, support this hypothesis and lead to the suggestion that in at least some cases, the evolution of quaternary enzyme structures might serve to optimise the dynamic properties of the protein subunits.

The antigen 43 structure reveals a molecular Velcro-like mechanism of autotransporter-mediated bacterial clumping

Significance Many persistent and chronic bacterial infections are associated with the formation of large cell aggregates and biofilms that are difficult to treat. This includes respiratory and urinary tract infections, infections on medical devices, and infections of the ear, gums, and heart. One mechanism used by bacteria to aggregate and form biofilms involves the expression of self-associating surface-located autotransporter proteins such as Antigen 43 (Ag43). Here we present the crystal structure of the functional passenger domain of Ag43 and demonstrate that its unique L-shaped structure drives the formation of cell aggregates via a molecular Velcro-like handshake mechanism. This work provides insight into the structure–function mechanisms that facilitate bacterial interactions during infection. Aggregation and biofilm formation are critical mechanisms for bacterial resistance to host immune factors and antibiotics. Autotransporter (AT) proteins, which represent the largest group of outer-membrane and secreted proteins in Gram-negative bacteria, contribute significantly to these phenotypes. Despite their abundance and role in bacterial pathogenesis, most AT proteins have not been structurally characterized, and there is a paucity of detailed information with regard to their mode of action. Here we report the structure–function relationships of Antigen 43 (Ag43a), a prototypic self-associating AT protein from uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The functional domain of Ag43a displays a twisted L-shaped β-helical structure firmly stabilized by a 3D hydrogen-bonded scaffold. Notably, the distinctive Ag43a L shape facilitates self-association and cell aggregation. Combining all our data, we define a molecular “Velcro-like” mechanism of AT-mediated bacterial clumping, which can be tailored to fit different bacterial lifestyles such as the formation of biofilms.

Low-resolution solution structures of Munc18:Syntaxin protein complexes indicate an open binding mode driven by the Syntaxin N-peptide.

When nerve cells communicate, vesicles from one neuron fuse with the presynaptic membrane releasing chemicals that signal to the next. Similarly, when insulin binds its receptor on adipocytes or muscle, glucose transporter-4 vesicles fuse with the cell membrane, allowing glucose to be imported. These essential processes require the interaction of SNARE proteins on vesicle and cell membranes, as well as the enigmatic protein Munc18 that binds the SNARE protein Syntaxin. Here, we show that in solution the neuronal protein Syntaxin1a interacts with Munc18-1 whether or not the Syntaxin1a N-peptide is present. Conversely, the adipocyte protein Syntaxin4 does not bind its partner Munc18c unless the N-peptide is present. Solution-scattering data for the Munc18-1:Syntaxin1a complex in the absence of the N-peptide indicates that this complex adopts the inhibitory closed binding mode, exemplified by a crystal structure of the complex. However, when the N-peptide is present, the solution-scattering data indicate both Syntaxin1a and Syntaxin4 adopt extended conformations in complexes with their respective Munc18 partners. The low-resolution solution structure of the open Munc18:Syntaxin binding mode was modeled using data from cross-linking/mass spectrometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, and small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation, indicating significant differences in Munc18:Syntaxin interactions compared with the closed binding mode. Overall, our results indicate that the neuronal Munc18-1:Syntaxin1a proteins can adopt two alternate and functionally distinct binding modes, closed and open, depending on the presence of the N-peptide, whereas Munc18c:Syntaxin4 adopts only the open binding mode.

Anisotropic displacement parameters for H atoms using an ONIOM approach

X-ray diffraction data cannot provide anisotropic displacement parameters (ADPs) for H atoms, a major outstanding problem in charge-density analysis of molecular crystals. Although neutron diffraction experiments are the preferred source of this information, for a variety of reasons they are possible only for a minority of materials of interest. To date, approximate procedures combine rigid-body analysis of the molecular heavy-atom skeleton, based on ADPs derived from the X-ray data, with estimates of internal motion provided by spectroscopic data, analyses of neutron diffraction data on related compounds, or ab initio calculations on isolated molecules. Building on these efforts, an improved methodology is presented, incorporating information on internal vibrational motion from ab initio cluster calculations using the ONIOM approach implemented in GAUSSIAN03. The method is tested by comparing model H-atom ADPs with reference values, largely from neutron diffraction experiments, for a variety of molecular crystals: benzene, 1-methyluracil, alpha-glycine, xylitol and 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline. The results are impressive and, as the method is based on widely available software, and is in principle widely applicable, it offers considerable promise in future charge-density studies of molecular crystals.

Solution structure of ectodomains of the insulin receptor family: the ectodomain of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor displays asymmetry of ligand binding accompanied by limited conformational change.

The insulin receptor (IR) and the homologous Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) are cell-surface tyrosine kinase receptors that effect signaling within the respective pathways of glucose metabolism and normal human growth. While ligand binding to these receptors is assumed to result in a structural transition within the receptor ectodomain that then effects signal transduction across the cell membrane, little is known about the molecular detail of these events. Presented here are small-angle X-ray scattering data obtained from the IR and IGF-1R ectodomains in solution. We show that, in solution, the ectodomains of IR and IGF-1R have a domain disposition that is very similar to that seen in the crystal structure of the ectodomain of IR, despite the constituent domains being in relatively sparse contact and potentially mobile. We also show that the IGF-1R ectodomain is capable of binding up to three molecules of IGF-1 in solution, with surprisingly little apparent change in relative domain disposition compared to the apo form. While the observed 3:1 ligand-binding stoichiometry appears to contradict earlier explanations of the absence of a bell-shaped dose-response curve for IGF-1R in ligand displacement assays, it is readily understood in the context of the harmonic oscillator model of the negative cooperativity of ligand binding to IGF-1R. Taken together, our findings suggest that the structural movements within these receptors upon ligand binding are small and are possibly limited to local rotation of domains.

Domain-swap polymerization drives the self-assembly of the bacterial flagellar motor

Large protein complexes assemble spontaneously, yet their subunits do not prematurely form unwanted aggregates. This paradox is epitomized in the bacterial flagellar motor, a sophisticated rotary motor and sensory switch consisting of hundreds of subunits. Here we demonstrate that Escherichia coli FliG, one of the earliest-assembling flagellar motor proteins, forms ordered ring structures via domain-swap polymerization, which in other proteins has been associated with uncontrolled and deleterious protein aggregation. Solution structural data, in combination with in vivo biochemical cross-linking experiments and evolutionary covariance analysis, revealed that FliG exists predominantly as a monomer in solution but only as domain-swapped polymers in assembled flagellar motors. We propose a general structural and thermodynamic model for self-assembly, in which a structural template controls assembly and shapes polymer formation into rings.

2017 publication guidelines for structural modelling of small-angle scattering data from biomolecules in solution: An update

Updated guidelines are presented for publishing biomolecular small-angle scattering (SAS) experiments so that readers can independently assess the quality of the data and models presented. The focus is on solution scattering experiments with either X-rays (SAXS) or neutrons (SANS), where the primary goal is the generation and testing of three-dimensional models, particularly in the context of integrative/hybrid structural modelling.

BILBY: Time-of-Flight Small Angle Scattering Instrument

Neutron News Volume 27 • Number 2 • 2016 9 The BILBY Time-of-Flight (ToF) Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) instrument at the Bragg Institute at ANSTO is among a number of recent additions to the current suite of operating instruments. The fi ve-year project, beginning in October 2009, involved the development, design, manufacture, and installation of all components of the instrument. BILBY (Fig. 1) is the second pinhole SANS instrument utilising neutrons produced by the OPAL reactor, and was built to complement and extend the capabilities of the QUOKKA [1] SANS instrument. BILBY is a world class instrument capable of applying the technique of SANS to a broad range of research areas, including chemistry and industrial chemistry; physics; biochemistry; biology; polymer and colloid sciences; mechanical, chemical, polymer and materials engineering; environmental sciences; steel processing; geology and geosciences. The inspiration for BILBY is the D33 instrument located at the Institut Laue-Langevin [2]. Similar to D33, BILBY exploits neutron ToF to extend the measurable Qrange, over and above what is possible on a conventional reactor-based monochromatic SANS instrument. Time of fl ight is achieved using four choppers, which gives a wide range of choice in relation to the wavelength resolution (from ~3%‒30%, depending on the chopper setup and on the sample-detector distance). In March 2014, commissioning experiments were commenced on BILBY and currently we are readying for the commencement of our user program in March 2016. BILBY’s layout is shown on Figure 2.