James R. Banigan

Ligand‐Induced Conformational Changes of the Multidrug Resistance Transporter EmrE Probed by Oriented Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

We used oriented solid-state NMR spectroscopy and biochemical cross-linking experiments to demonstrate that the ligand-free membrane protein transporter EmrE forms anti-parallel dimers with different monomer tilt angles relative to the lipid bilayer. Our results also show the subtle conformational changes efflux pumps experience in response to drug binding and emphasize the importance of studying membrane proteins in a fluid bilayer environment.

Intrinsic conformational plasticity of native EmrE provides a pathway for multidrug resistance

EmrE is a multidrug resistance efflux pump with specificity to a wide range of antibiotics and antiseptics. To obtain atomic-scale insight into the attributes of the native state that encodes the broad specificity, we used a hybrid of solution and solid-state NMR methods in lipid bilayers and bicelles. Our results indicate that the native EmrE dimer oscillates between inward and outward facing structural conformations at an exchange rate (kex) of ∼300 s–1 at 37 °C (millisecond motions), which is ∼50-fold faster relative to the tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) substrate-bound form of the protein. These observables provide quantitative evidence that the rate-limiting step in the TPP+ transport cycle is not the outward–inward conformational change in the absence of drug. In addition, using differential scanning calorimetry, we found that the width of the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition was 2 °C broader in the absence of the TPP+ substrate versus its presence, which suggested that changes in transporter dynamics can impact the phase properties of the membrane. Interestingly, experiments with cross-linked EmrE showed that the millisecond inward-open to outward-open dynamics was not the culprit of the broadening. Instead, the calorimetry and NMR data supported the conclusion that faster time scale structural dynamics (nanosecond–microsecond) were the source and therefore impart the conformationally plastic character of native EmrE capable of binding structurally diverse substrates. These findings provide a clear example how differences in membrane protein transporter structural dynamics between drug-free and bound states can have a direct impact on the physical properties of the lipid bilayer in an allosteric fashion.

Combination of 15N reverse labeling and afterglow spectroscopy for assigning membrane protein spectra by magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR: Application to the multidrug resistance protein EmrE

Magic-angle-spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR spectroscopy has emerged as a viable method to characterize membrane protein structure and dynamics. Nevertheless, the spectral resolution for uniformly labeled samples is often compromised by redundancy of the primary sequence and the presence of helical secondary structure that results in substantial resonance overlap. The ability to simplify the spectrum in order to obtain unambiguous site-specific assignments is a major bottleneck for structure determination. To address this problem, we used a combination of 15N reverse labeling, afterglow spectroscopic techniques, and frequency-selective dephasing experiments that dramatically improved the ability to resolve peaks in crowded spectra. This was demonstrated using the polytopic membrane protein EmrE, an efflux pump involved in multidrug resistance. Residues preceding the 15N reverse labeled amino acid were imaged using a 3D NCOCX afterglow experiment and those following were recorded using a frequency-selective dephasing experiment. Our approach reduced the spectral congestion and provided a sensitive way to obtain chemical shift assignments for a membrane protein where no high-resolution structure is available. This MAS methodology is widely applicable to the study of other polytopic membrane proteins in functional lipid bilayer environments.

Correlating lipid bilayer fluidity with sensitivity and resolution of polytopic membrane protein spectra by solid-state NMR spectroscopy☆

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has emerged as an excellent tool to study the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins under native-like conditions in lipid bilayers. One of the key considerations in experimental design is the uniaxial rotational diffusion of the protein that can affect the NMR spectral observables. In this regard, temperature plays a fundamental role in modulating the phase properties of the lipids, which directly influences the rotational diffusion rate of the protein in the bilayer. In fact, it is well established that below the main phase transition temperature of the lipid bilayer the proteins motion is significantly slowed while above this critical temperature the rate is increased. In this article, we carried out a systematic comparison of the signal intensity and spectral resolution as a function of temperature using magic-angle-spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR spectroscopy. These observables were directly correlated with the relative fluidity of the lipid bilayer as inferred from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We applied our hybrid biophysical approach to two polytopic membrane proteins from the small multidrug resistance family (EmrE and SugE) reconstituted into model membrane lipid bilayers (DMPC-14:0 and DPPC-16:0). From these experiments, we conclude that the rotational diffusion giving optimal spectral resolution occurs at a bilayer fluidity of ~5%, which corresponds to the percentage of lipids in the fluid or liquid-crystalline fraction. At the temperature corresponding to this critical value of fluidity, there is sufficient mobility to reduce inhomogeneous line broadening that occurs at lower temperatures. A greater extent of fluidity leads to faster uniaxial rotational diffusion and a sigmoidal-type reduction in the NMR signal intensity, which stems from intermediate-exchange dynamics where the motion has a similar frequency as the NMR observables (i.e., dipolar couplings and chemical shift anisotropy). These experiments provide insight into the optimal temperature range and corresponding bilayer fluidity to study membrane proteins by solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

A structured loop modulates coupling between the substrate-binding and dimerization domains in the multidrug resistance transporter EmrE.

Background: EmrE is a multidrug transporter. Results: NMR spectroscopy was used to reveal a structured loop adjoining the substrate-binding and dimerization domains. Conclusion: The linker structure and composition are conserved across the small multidrug resistance family and necessary for ion-coupled transport. Significance: Loops in secondary active transporters can play an active role in efflux pump function and require characterization in lipid bilayers. Secondary active transporters undergo large conformational changes to facilitate the efflux of substrates across the lipid bilayer. Among the smallest known transport proteins are members of the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family that are composed of four transmembrane (TM) domains and assemble into dimers. An unanswered question in the SMR field is how the dimerization domain (TM4) is coupled with the substrate-binding chamber (TM1–3). To provide insight for this essential aspect of ion-coupled transport, we carried out a structure-function study on the SMR protein EmrE using solid-state NMR spectroscopy in lipid bilayers and resistance assays in Escherichia coli. The chemical shifts for EmrE were consistent with β-strand secondary structure for the loop connecting TM3 and TM4. Based on these structural results, EmrE mutants were created to ascertain whether a specific loop length and composition were necessary for function. A linker encompassing six extra Gly residues relative to wild-type EmrE failed to give resistance; however, the number of residues in the loop was not the only criterion for a functional efflux pump. Replacement of the central hydrophobic residue with Gly (L83G) also conferred no ethidium resistance phenotype, which supported the conclusion that the structure and length of the loop were both essential for ion-coupled transport. Taken together with a bioinformatics analysis, a structured linker is likely conserved across the SMR family to play an active role in mediating the conformational switch between inward-open and outward-open states necessary for drug efflux. These findings underscore the important role loops can play in mediating efflux.

Assessing Interactions Between a Polytopic Membrane Protein and Lipid Bilayers Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Solid-State NMR

It is known that the lipid composition within a cellular membrane can influence membrane protein structure and function. In this Article, we investigated how structural changes to a membrane protein upon substrate binding can impact the lipid bilayer. To carry out this study, we reconstituted the secondary active drug transporter EmrE into a variety of phospholipid bilayers varying in headgroup and chain length and carried out differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and solid-state NMR experiments. The DSC results revealed a difference in cooperativity of the lipid phase transition for drug-free EmrE protonated at glutamic acid 14 (i.e., proton-loaded form) and the tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) bound form of the protein (i.e., drug-loaded form). To complement these findings, we acquired magic-angle-spinning (MAS) spectra in the presence and absence of TPP+ by directly probing the phospholipid headgroup using 31P NMR. These spectra showed a reduction in lipid line widths around the main phase transition for samples where EmrE was bound to TPP+ compared to the drug free form. Finally, we collected oriented solid-state NMR spectra on isotopically enriched EmrE that displayed chemical shift perturbations to both transmembrane and loop residues upon TPP+ binding. All of these results prompt us to propose a mechanism whereby substrate-induced changes to the structural dynamics of EmrE alters the surrounding lipids within the bilayer.