Gea K. Schuurman-Wolters

Bacillus subtilis spore protein SpoVAC functions as a mechanosensitive channel

A critical event during spore germination is the release of Ca‐DPA (calcium in complex with dipicolinic acid). The mechanism of release of Ca‐DPA through the inner membrane of the spore is not clear, but proteins encoded by the Bacillus subtilis spoVA operon are involved in the process. We cloned and expressed the spoVAC gene in Escherichia coli and characterized the SpoVAC protein. We show that SpoVAC protects E. coli against osmotic downshift, suggesting that it might act as a mechanosensitive channel. Purified SpoVAC was reconstituted in unilamellar lipid vesicles to determine the gating mechanism and pore properties of the protein. By means of a fluorescence‐dequenching assay, we show that SpoVAC is activated upon insertion into the membrane of the amphiphiles lysoPC and dodecylamine. Patch clamp experiments on E. coli giant spheroplast as well as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) containing SpoVAC show that the protein forms transient pores with main conductance values of about 0.15 and 0.1 nS respectively. Overall, our data indicate that SpoVAC acts as a mechanosensitive channel and has properties that would allow the release of Ca‐DPA and amino acids during germination of the spore.

The thermal stability and domain interactions of the mannitol permease of Escherichia coli - A differential scanning calorimetry study

The thermal stability and domain interactions in the mannitol transporter from Escherichia coli, enzyme IImtl, have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. To this end, the wild type enzyme, IICBAmtl, as well as IICBmtl and IICmtl, were reconstituted into a dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine lipid bilayer. The changes in the gel to liquid crystalline transition of the lipid indicated that the protein was inserted into the membrane, disturbing a total of approximately 40 lipid molecules/protein molecule. The thermal unfolding profile of EIImtl exhibited three separate transitions, two of which were overlapping, that could be assigned to structural domains in the protein. Treatment with trypsin, resulting in the degradation of the water-soluble part of the enzyme while leaving the binding and translocation capability of the enzyme intact, resulted in a decrease of the T m and enthalpy of unfolding of the membrane-embedded C domain. This effect was much more apparent in the presence of the substrate but only partly so in the presence of the substrate analog perseitol. These results are consistent with a recently proposed model (Meijberg, W., Schuurman-Wolters, G. K., and Robillard, G. T. (1998)J. Biol. Chem. 273, 7949–7946), in which the B domain takes part in the conformational changes during the substrate binding process.

Mapping of the dimer interface of the Escherichia coli mannitol permease by cysteine cross-linking

A cysteine cross-linking approach was used to identify residues at the dimer interface of the Escherichia coli mannitol permease. This transport protein comprises two cytoplasmic domains and one membrane-embedded C domain per monomer, of which the latter provides the dimer contacts. A series of single-cysteine His-tagged C domains present in the native membrane were subjected to Cu(II)-(1,10-phenanthroline)3-catalyzed disulfide formation or cysteine cross-linking with dimaleimides of different length. The engineered cysteines were at the borders of the predicted membrane-spanning α-helices. Two residues were found to be located in close proximity of each other and capable of forming a disulfide, while four other locations formed cross-links with the longer dimaleimides. Solubilization of the membranes did only influence the cross-linking behavior at one position (Cys73). Mannitol binding only effected the cross-linking of a cysteine at the border of the third transmembrane helix (Cys134), indicating that substrate binding does not lead to large rearrangements in the helix packing or to dissociation of the dimer. Upon mannitol binding, the Cys134 becomes more exposed but the residue is no longer capable of forming a stable disulfide in the dimeric IIC domain. In combination with the recently obtained projection structure of the IIC domain in two-dimensional crystals, a first proposal is made for α-helix packing in the mannitol permease.

Substrate Specificity and Ionic Regulation of GlnPQ from Lactococcus lactis. An ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter with Four Extracytoplasmic Substrate-Binding Domains

We report on the functional characterization of GlnPQ, an ATP-binding cassette transporter with four extracytoplasmic substrate-binding domains. The first predicted transmembrane helix of GlnP was cleaved off in the mature protein and most likely serves as the signal sequence for the extracytoplasmic substrate-binding domains. Deletion analysis showed that the substrate-binding domain, in the primary sequence of GlnP nearest to the translocator domain, is used as the receptor that delivers the substrate to the translocator. Membrane reconstitution of the detergent-solubilized and purified GlnPQ complex yielded proteoliposomes that transported glutamine and glutamic acid at the expense of ATP. The transport activity of GlnPQ increased with lumenal salt concentration and internal pH, but the mechanism of ionic activation of the transporter is distinct from that of other osmoregulatory ATP-binding cassette transporters and does not depend on the presence of anionic lipids. The regulation of GlnPQ conforms to an electrostatic switch in which protein domain(s) and low molecular weight electrolytes participate.

Solution NMR Study of the Monomeric Form of p13 suc1 Protein Sheds Light on the Hinge Region Determining the Affinity for a Phosphorylated Substrate

Cyclin-dependent kinase subunit (CKS) proteins bind to cyclin-dependent kinases and target various proteins to phosphorylation and proteolysis during cell division. Crystal structures showed that CKS can exist both in a closed monomeric conformation when bound to the kinase and in an inactive C-terminal β-strand-exchanged conformation. With the exception of the hinge loop, however, both crystal structures are identical, and no new protein interface is formed in the dimer. Protein engineering studies have pinpointed the crucial role of the proline 90 residue of the p13 suc1 CKS protein fromSchizosaccharomyces pombe in the monomer-dimer equilibrium and have led to the concept of a loaded molecular spring of the β-hinge motif. Mutation of this hinge proline into an alanine stabilizes the protein and prevents the occurrence of swapping. However, other mutations further away from the hinge as well as ligand binding can equally shift the equilibrium between monomer and dimer. To address the question of differential affinity through relief of the strain, here we compare the ligand binding of the monomeric form of wild-type S. pombe p13 suc1 and its hinge mutant P90A in solution by NMR spectroscopy. We indeed observed a 5-fold difference in affinity with the wild-type protein being the most strongly binding. Our structural study further indicates that both wild-type and the P90A mutant proteins adopt in solution the closed conformation but display different dynamic properties in the C-terminal β-sheet involved in domain swapping and protein interactions.

Real-time conformational changes and controlled orientation of native proteins inside a protein nanoreactor

Protein conformations play crucial roles in most, if not all, biological processes. Here we show that the current carried through a nanopore by ions allows monitoring conformational changes of single and native substrate-binding domains (SBD) of an ATP-Binding Cassette importer in real-time. Comparison with single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer and ensemble measurements revealed that proteins trapped inside the nanopore have bulk-like properties. Two ligand-free and two ligand-bound conformations of SBD proteins were inferred and their kinetic constants were determined. Remarkably, internalized proteins aligned with the applied voltage bias, and their orientation could be controlled by the addition of a single charge to the protein surface. Nanopores can thus be used to immobilize proteins on a surface with a specific orientation, and will be employed as nanoreactors for single-molecule studies of native proteins. Moreover, nanopores with internal protein adaptors might find further practical applications in multianalyte sensing devices.

Domain and subunit interactions and their role in the function of the E. Coli mannitol transporter, EIIMTL

Summary The issue of subunit and domain interactions and their role in the function of EIImtl in transport and phosphorylation has been addressed with a variety of EIImtl constructs using kinetic and physical chemical methods. We have shown that: o 1.Subunit interactions are essential for transport and phosphorylation of mannitol, but that within the associated complex, only one active A, B and C domain are necessary and they do not have to be situated on the same subunit. The rate of phosphorylation of mannitol is the fastest, however, if the active domains are situated on the same subunit. These observations, together with the high affinities observed during complexation of IICmtl with wild-type and mutant forms of EIImtl, suggest that the EII dimer possesses an open structure in which the C domains provide the forces for dimerization and the freely mobile A and B domains are capable of transferring their phosphoryl group to their own subunit or neighboring subunit. If these domains are inactive they can be replaced by the free proteins, IIAmtl and IIBmtl but then much higher concentrations are required to achieve significant rates because the affinities between the domains are low and the proximity factor is missing. 2.Phosphorylation of the active site histidine destabilizes the A domain. Interaction between the A and B domains in the covalently-linked complex destabilizes the B domain. The mechanistic basis for this destabilization is currently under investigation. 3.The B and C domain experience a specific interaction upon phosphorylation of the B domain which is reflected in small alterations of the β-sheet secondary structure FTIR bands of the C domain. Perseitol binding has a similar effect. 4.Mannitol binding is reported by the increase in fluorescence of a single tryptophan far removed, in the linear sequence, from other residues in the transporter domain which are involved in binding and transport. This may reflect the proximity of these portions of the protein in the 3D structure. All aspects of the work presented above continue to be investigated in the confidence that they will provide a more complete picture of the structural and mechanistic relationships associated with enzyme-catalyzed transport.

Structure and Mode of Peptide Binding of Pheromone Receptor PrgZ

Background: A sex pheromone system controls bacterial conjugation. Results: The initial receptor PrgZ has been crystallized in complex with the sex pheromone cCF10. Conclusion: An extensive network of hydrogen bonds explains the high peptide specificity of PrgZ. Significance: The sex pheromone and inhibitor peptide compete for binding to PrgZ, providing new insight into the regulation of conjugation. We present the crystal structure of the pheromone receptor protein PrgZ from Enterococcus faecalis in complex with the heptapeptide cCF10 (LVTLVFV), which is used in signaling between conjugative recipient and donor cells. Comparison of PrgZ with homologous oligopeptide-binding proteins (AppA and OppA) explains the high specificity of PrgZ for hydrophobic heptapeptides versus the promiscuity of peptide binding in the homologous proteins.

Energy coupling efficiency in the Type I ABC transporter GlnPQ

Solute transport via ATP binding cassette (ABC) importers involves receptor-mediated substrate binding, which is followed by ATP-driven translocation of the substrate across the membrane. How these steps are exactly initiated and coupled, and how much ATP it takes to complete a full transport cycle, are subject of debate. Here, we reconstitute the ABC importer GlnPQ in nanodiscs and in proteoliposomes and determine substrate-(in)dependent ATP hydrolysis and transmembrane transport. We determined the conformational states of the substrate-binding domains (SBDs) by single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer measurements. We find that the basal ATPase activity (ATP hydrolysis in the absence of substrate) is mainly caused by the docking of the closed-unliganded state of the SBDs onto the transporter domain of GlnPQ and that, unlike glutamine, arginine binds both SBDs but does not trigger their closing. Furthermore, comparison of the ATPase activity in nanodiscs with glutamine transport in proteoliposomes shows that the stoichiometry of ATP per substrate is close to two. These findings help understand the mechanism of transport and the energy coupling efficiency in ABC transporters with covalently linked SBDs, which may aid our understanding of Type I ABC importers in general.

Protein linkers provide limits on the domain interactions in the ABC importer GlnPQ and determine the rate of transport

GlnPQ is an ATP-binding cassette importer with a unique domain organization and intricate transport behavior. The protein has two extracytoplamic substrate-binding domains (SBDs) per membrane subunit, each with different specificity for amino acids and different spacing to the translocator domain. We determined the effect of the length and structure of the linkers, which connect the SBDs to each other and to the membrane-embedded translocator domain, on the transport by GlnPQ. We reveal that varying the linker length impacts transport in a dual manner that depends on the conformational dynamics of the SBD. Varying the linker length not only changes the time for the SBD to find the translocator (docking) but also changes the probability to release the substrate again, thus altering the transport efficiency. On the basis of the experimental data and mathematical modeling, we calculate the docking efficiency as function of linker length and lifetime of the closed conformation. Importantly, not only linker length but also features in the sequence are important for efficient delivery of substrate from SBD to the translocator. We show that the linkers provide a platform for SBD docking and are not merely flexible structures.