Hugo M. Botelho

Natural and amyloid self‐assembly of S100 proteins: structural basis of functional diversity

The S100 proteins are 10–12 kDa EF‐hand proteins that act as central regulators in a multitude of cellular processes including cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and motility. Consequently, many S100 proteins are implicated and display marked changes in their expression levels in many types of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The structure and function of S100 proteins are modulated by metal ions via Ca2+ binding through EF‐hand motifs and binding of Zn2+ and Cu2+ at additional sites, usually at the homodimer interfaces. Ca2+ binding modulates S100 conformational opening and thus promotes and affects the interaction with p53, the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts and Toll‐like receptor 4, among many others. Structural plasticity also occurs at the quaternary level, where several S100 proteins self‐assemble into multiple oligomeric states, many being functionally relevant. Recently, we have found that the S100A8/A9 proteins are involved in amyloidogenic processes in corpora amylacea of prostate cancer patients, and undergo metal‐mediated amyloid oligomerization and fibrillation in vitro. Here we review the unique chemical and structural properties of S100 proteins that underlie the conformational changes resulting in their oligomerization upon metal ion binding and ultimately in functional control. The possibility that S100 proteins have intrinsic amyloid‐forming capacity is also addressed, as well as the hypothesis that amyloid self‐assemblies may, under particular physiological conditions, affect the S100 functions within the cellular milieu.

Metal ions modulate the folding and stability of the tumor suppressor protein S100A2

The EF‐hand protein S100A2 is a cell cycle regulator involved in tumorigenesis, acting through regulation of the p53 activation state. Metal ion‐free S100A2 is homodimeric and contains two Ca2+‐binding sites and two Zn2+‐binding sites per subunit, whereby the Zn2+ ion binding to one of the sites is coordinated by residues from two homodimers. The effect of selective binding of these metal ions was investigated using site‐specific mutants which lacked one or both zinc sites. CD analysis of secondary structure changes on metallation showed that Zn2+ binding was associated with a decrease in the secondary structure content, whereas Ca2+ had the opposite effect in two of the three S100A2 mutants studied. The energy of unfolding (ΔGU) of the apo wild‐type S100A2 was determined to be 89.9 kJ·mol−1, and the apparent midpoint transition temperature () was 58.4 °C. In addition, a detailed study of the urea and thermal unfolding of the S100A2 mutants in different metallation states (apo, Zn2+ and Ca2+) was performed. Thermal denaturation experiments showed that Zn2+ acts as a destabilizer and Ca2+ as a stabilizer of the protein conformation. This suggests a synergistic effect between metal binding, protein stability and S100A2 biological activity, according to which Ca2+ activates and stabilizes the protein, the opposite being observed on Zn2+ binding.

S100A6 amyloid fibril formation is calcium-modulated and enhances superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) aggregation

Background: The calcium and zinc binding S100A6 protein is overexpressed in ALS and Alzheimers disease. Results: S100A6 aggregates into fibrils under physiological conditions, a process repressed by calcium. Native S100A6 enhances aggregation of SOD1, a hallmark of ALS. Conclusion: S100A6 is a novel amyloidogenic protein and its aggregation is modulated by calcium. Significance: S100A6 aggregation elicits yet unconsidered roles in human pathology. S100A6 is a small EF-hand calcium- and zinc-binding protein involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and cytoskeletal dynamics. It is overexpressed in neurodegenerative disorders and a proposed marker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Following recent reports of amyloid formation by S100 proteins, we investigated the aggregation properties of S100A6. Computational analysis using aggregation predictors Waltz and Zyggregator revealed increased propensity within S100A6 helices HI and HIV. Subsequent analysis of Thioflavin-T binding kinetics under acidic conditions elicited a very fast process with no lag phase and extensive formation of aggregates and stacked fibrils as observed by electron microscopy. Ca2+ exerted an inhibitory effect on the aggregation kinetics, which could be reverted upon chelation. An FT-IR investigation of the early conformational changes occurring under these conditions showed that Ca2+ promotes anti-parallel β-sheet conformations that repress fibrillation. At pH 7, Ca2+ rendered the fibril formation kinetics slower: time-resolved imaging showed that fibril formation is highly suppressed, with aggregates forming instead. In the absence of metals an extensive network of fibrils is formed. S100A6 oligomers, but not fibrils, were found to be cytotoxic, decreasing cell viability by up to 40%. This effect was not observed when the aggregates were formed in the presence of Ca2+. Interestingly, native S1006 seeds SOD1 aggregation, shortening its nucleation process. This suggests a cross-talk between these two proteins involved in ALS. Overall, these results put forward novel roles for S100 proteins, whose metal-modulated aggregation propensity may be a key aspect in their physiology and function.

Correction of a Cystic Fibrosis Splicing Mutation by Antisense Oligonucleotides.

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common life‐threatening genetic disease in Caucasians, is caused by ∼2,000 different mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. A significant fraction of these (∼13%) affect pre‐mRNA splicing for which novel therapies have been somewhat neglected. We have previously described the effect of the CFTR splicing mutation c.2657+5G>A in IVS16, showing that it originates transcripts lacking exon 16 as well as wild‐type transcripts. Here, we tested an RNA‐based antisense oligonucleotide (AON) strategy to correct the aberrant splicing caused by this mutation. Two AONs (AON1/2) complementary to the pre‐mRNA IVS16 mutant region were designed and their effect on splicing was assessed at the RNA and protein levels, on intracellular protein localization and function. To this end, we used the 2657+5G>A mutant CFTR minigene stably expressed in HEK293 Flp‐In cells that express a single copy of the transgene. RNA data from AON1‐treated mutant cells show that exon 16 inclusion was almost completely restored (to 95%), also resulting in increased levels of correctly localized CFTR protein at the plasma membrane (PM) and with increased function. A novel two‐color CFTR splicing reporter minigene developed here allowed the quantitative monitoring of splicing by automated microscopy localization of CFTR at the PM. The AON strategy is thus a promising therapeutic approach for the specific correction of alternative splicing.

Protein Traffic Disorders: an Effective High-Throughput Fluorescence Microscopy Pipeline for Drug Discovery

Plasma membrane proteins are essential molecules in the cell which mediate interactions with the exterior milieu, thus representing key drug targets for present pharma. Not surprisingly, protein traffic disorders include a large range of diseases sharing the common mechanism of failure in the respective protein to reach the plasma membrane. However, specific therapies for these diseases are remarkably lacking. Herein, we report a robust platform for drug discovery applied to a paradigmatic genetic disorder affecting intracellular trafficking – Cystic Fibrosis. This platform includes (i) two original respiratory epithelial cellular models incorporating an inducible double-tagged traffic reporter; (ii) a plasma membrane protein traffic assay for high-throughput microscopy screening; and (iii) open-source image analysis software to quantify plasma membrane protein traffic. By allowing direct scoring of compounds rescuing the basic traffic defect, this platform enables an effective drug development pipeline, which can be promptly adapted to any traffic disorder-associated protein and leverage therapy development efforts.

Intrinsically disordered and aggregation prone regions underlie β-aggregation in S100 proteins.

S100 proteins are small dimeric calcium-binding proteins which control cell cycle, growth and differentiation via interactions with different target proteins. Intrinsic disorder is a hallmark among many signaling proteins and S100 proteins have been proposed to contain disorder-prone regions. Interestingly, some S100 proteins also form amyloids: S100A8/A9 forms fibrils in prostatic inclusions and S100A6 fibrillates in vitro and seeds SOD1 aggregation. Here we report a study designed to investigate whether β-aggregation is a feature extensive to more members of S100 family. In silico analysis of seven human S100 proteins revealed a direct correlation between aggregation and intrinsic disorder propensity scores, suggesting a relationship between these two independent properties. Averaged position-specific analysis and structural mapping showed that disorder-prone segments are contiguous to aggregation-prone regions and that whereas disorder is prominent on the hinge and target protein-interaction regions, segments with high aggregation propensity are found in ordered regions within the dimer interface. Acidic conditions likely destabilize the seven S100 studied by decreasing the shielding of aggregation-prone regions afforded by the quaternary structure. In agreement with the in silico analysis, hydrophobic moieties become accessible as indicated by strong ANS fluorescence. ATR-FTIR spectra support a structural inter-conversion from α-helices to intermolecular β-sheets, and prompt ThT-binding takes place with no noticeable lag phase. Dot blot analysis using amyloid conformational antibodies denotes a high diversity of conformers; subsequent analysis by TEM shows fibrils as dominant species. Altogether, our data suggests that β-aggregation and disorder-propensity are related properties in S100 proteins, and that the onset of aggregation is likely triggered by loss of protective tertiary and quaternary interactions.

The Sulfur Oxygenase Reductase from the Mesophilic Bacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus Is a Highly Active Thermozyme

A biochemical, biophysical, and phylogenetic study of the sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR) from the mesophilic gammaproteobacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus (HnSOR) was performed in order to determine the structural and biochemical properties of the enzyme. SOR proteins from 14 predominantly chemolithoautotrophic bacterial and archaeal species are currently available in public databases. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that they form a coherent protein family. The HnSOR purified from Escherichia coli after heterologous gene expression had a temperature range of activity of 10 to 99°C with an optimum at 80°C (42 U/mg protein). Sulfite, thiosulfate, and hydrogen sulfide were formed at various stoichiometries in a range between pH 5.4 and 11 (optimum pH 8.4). Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering showed that the HnSOR adopts secondary and quaternary structures similar to those of the 24-subunit enzyme from the hyperthermophile Acidianus ambivalens (AaSOR). The melting point of the HnSOR was ≈20°C lower than that of the AaSOR, when analyzed with CD-monitored thermal unfolding. Homology modeling showed that the secondary structure elements of single subunits are conserved. Subtle changes in the pores of the outer shell and increased flexibility might contribute to activity at low temperature. We concluded that the thermostability was the result of a rigid protein core together with the stabilizing effect of the 24-subunit hollow sphere.

Biochemical and biophysical characterization of recombinant yeast proteasome maturation factor ump1.

Protein degradation is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. The proteasome is the central enzyme responsible for non-lysosomal protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Although proteasome assembly is not yet completely understood, a number of cofactors required for proper assembly and maturation have been identified. Ump is a short-lived maturation factor required for the efficient biogenesis of the 20S proteasome. Upon the association of the two precursor complexes, Ump is encased and is rapidly degraded after the proteolytic sites in the interior of the nascent proteasome are activated. In order to further understand the mechanisms behind proteasomal maturation, we expressed and purified yeast Ump in E. coli for biophysical and structural analysis. We show that recombinant Ump is purified as a mixture of different oligomeric species and that oligomerization is mediated by intermolecular disulfide bond formation involving the only cysteine residue present in the protein. Furthermore, a combination of bioinformatic, biochemical and structural analysis revealed that Ump shows characteristics of an intrinsically disordered protein, which might become structured only upon interaction with the proteasome subunits.

Analysis of S100 Oligomers and Amyloids

The S100 proteins are a large family of 10-12 kDa EF-hand signaling proteins that bind calcium, and in some cases zinc and copper, functioning as central regulators in a diversity of cellular processes. These proteins have tissue, cell, and subcellular-specific expression patterns, and many have an extracellular function. Altogether, these properties underlie their functional diversity and involvement in several pathological conditions including cancer, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. S100 proteins exhibit considerable structural plasticity, being able to exist as monomers or assemble into dimers, higher oligomers, and amyloids, frequently in a metal-dependent manner. Many of these oligomers are functionally relevant, and S100 amyloids have been recently found in prostatic inclusions. Here, we report experimental procedures for the isolation and quantitation of S100 oligomers from tissues, purification of recombinant human S100 protein for assays and use as standards, and an amyloidogenesis assay that allows monitoring the formation of S100 β-oligomers and amyloids in apo- and metal-bound S100 proteins.

Investigating Alternative Transport of Integral Plasma Membrane Proteins from the ER to the Golgi: Lessons from the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)

Secretory traffic became a topical field because many important cell regulators are plasma membrane proteins (transporters, channels, receptors), being thus key targets in biomedicine and drug discovery. Cystic fibrosis (CF), caused by defects in a single gene encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), constitutes the most common of rare diseases and certainly a paradigmatic one.Here we focus on five different approaches that allow biochemical and cellular characterization of CFTR from its co-translational insertion into the ER membrane to its delivery to the plasma membrane.