Natalie Zeytuni

Structural and Functional Discussion of the Tetra-Trico-Peptide Repeat, a Protein Interaction Module

Tetra-trico-peptide repeat (TPR) domains are found in numerous proteins, where they serve as interaction modules and multiprotein complex mediators. TPRs can be found in all kingdoms of life and regulate diverse biological processes, such as organelle targeting and protein import, vesicle fusion, and biomineralization. This review considers the structural features of TPR domains that permit the great ligand-binding diversity of this motif, given that TPR-interacting partners display variations in both sequence and secondary structure. In addition, tools for predicting TPR-interacting partners are discussed, as are the abilities of TPR domains to serve as protein-protein interaction scaffolds in biotechnology and therapeutics.

Self-recognition mechanism of MamA, a magnetosome-associated TPR-containing protein, promotes complex assembly

The magnetosome, a biomineralizing organelle within magnetotactic bacteria, allows their navigation along geomagnetic fields. Magnetosomes are membrane-bound compartments containing magnetic nanoparticles and organized into a chain within the cell, the assembly and biomineralization of magnetosomes are controlled by magnetosome-associated proteins. Here, we describe the crystal structures of the magnetosome-associated protein, MamA, from Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 and Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1. MamA folds as a sequential tetra-trico-peptide repeat (TPR) protein with a unique hook-like shape. Analysis of the MamA structures indicates two distinct domains that can undergo conformational changes. Furthermore, structural analysis of seven crystal forms verified that the core of MamA is not affected by crystallization conditions and identified three protein–protein interaction sites, namely a concave site, a convex site, and a putative TPR repeat. Additionally, relying on transmission electron microscopy and size exclusion chromatography, we show that highly stable complexes form upon MamA homooligomerization. Disruption of the MamA putative TPR motif or N-terminal domain led to protein mislocalization in vivo and prevented MamA oligomerization in vitro. We, therefore, propose that MamA self-assembles through its putative TPR motif and its concave site to create a large homooligomeric scaffold which can interact with other magnetosome-associated proteins via the MamA convex site. We discuss the structural basis for TPR homooligomerization that allows the proper function of a prokaryotic organelle.

Cation diffusion facilitators transport initiation and regulation is mediated by cation induced conformational changes of the cytoplasmic domain.

Cation diffusion facilitators (CDF) are part of a highly conserved protein family that maintains cellular divalent cation homeostasis in all domains of life. CDFs were shown to be involved in several human diseases, such as Type-II diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we employed a multi-disciplinary approach to study the activation mechanism of the CDF protein family. For this we used MamM, one of the main ion transporters of magnetosomes – bacterial organelles that enable magnetotactic bacteria to orientate along geomagnetic fields. Our results reveal that the cytosolic domain of MamM forms a stable dimer that undergoes distinct conformational changes upon divalent cation binding. MamM conformational change is associated with three metal binding sites that were identified and characterized. Altogether, our results provide a novel auto-regulation mode of action model in which the cytosolic domains conformational changes upon ligand binding allows the priming of the CDF into its transport mode.

MamA as a Model Protein for Structure-Based Insight into the Evolutionary Origins of Magnetotactic Bacteria.

MamA is a highly conserved protein found in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), a diverse group of prokaryotes capable of navigating according to magnetic fields – an ability known as magnetotaxis. Questions surround the acquisition of this magnetic navigation ability; namely, whether it arose through horizontal or vertical gene transfer. Though its exact function is unknown, MamA surrounds the magnetosome, the magnetic organelle embedding a biomineralised nanoparticle and responsible for magnetotaxis. Several structures for MamA from a variety of species have been determined and show a high degree of structural similarity. By determining the structure of MamA from Desulfovibrio magneticus RS-1 using X-ray crystallography, we have opened up the structure-sequence landscape. As such, this allows us to perform structural- and phylogenetic-based analyses using a variety of previously determined MamA from a diverse range of MTB species across various phylogenetic groups. We found that MamA has remained remarkably constant throughout evolution with minimal change between different taxa despite sequence variations. These findings, coupled with the generation of phylogenetic trees using both amino acid sequences and 16S rRNA, indicate that magnetotaxis likely did not spread via horizontal gene transfer and instead has a significantly earlier, primordial origin.

Inter-phylum structural conservation of the magnetosome-associated TPR-containing protein, MamA.

Magnetotactic bacteria enclose the magnetosome, a unique prokaryotic sub-cellular organelle that allows the biomineralization of magnetic nano-crystals. Membrane-coated magnetosomes are arranged into a linear chain that permits magnetotactic bacteria to navigate geomagnetic fields. Magnetosome assembly and biomineralization are controlled by conserved magnetosome-associated proteins, including MamA, a tetra-trico-peptide repeat (TPR)-containing protein that was shown to coat the magnetosome membrane. In this study, two MamA structures from Candidatus Magnetobacterium bavaricum (Mbav) were determined via X-ray crystallography. These structures confirm that Mbav MamA folds as a sequential TPR protein and shares a high degree of structural similarity with homologous MamA proteins from Magnetospirillum species. Furthermore, the two TPR-containing domains of MamA are separated by an interphylum-conserved region containing a flexible hinge that is involved in ligand binding and recognition. Finally, substantial differences were found in the local stabilization of the MamA N-terminal domain as a result of the loss of an evolutionary conserved salt bridge.

The dual role of MamB in magnetosome membrane assembly and magnetite biomineralization

Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR‐1 synthesizes membrane‐enclosed magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, magnetosomes, for magnetotaxis. Formation of these organelles involves a complex process comprising key steps which are governed by specific magnetosome‐associated proteins. MamB, a cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family member has been implicated in magnetosome‐directed iron transport. However, deletion mutagenesis studies revealed that MamB is essential for the formation of magnetosome membrane vesicles, but its precise role remains elusive. In this study, we employed a multi‐disciplinary approach to define the role of MamB during magnetosome formation. Using site‐directed mutagenesis complemented by structural analyses, fluorescence microscopy and cryo‐electron tomography, we show that MamB is most likely an active magnetosome‐directed transporter serving two distinct, yet essential functions. First, MamB initiates magnetosome vesicle formation in a transport‐independent process, probably by serving as a landmark protein. Second, MamB transport activity is required for magnetite nucleation. Furthermore, by determining the crystal structure of the MamB cytosolic C‐terminal domain, we also provide mechanistic insight into transport regulation. Additionally, we present evidence that magnetosome vesicle growth and chain formation are independent of magnetite nucleation and magnetic interactions respectively. Together, our data provide novel insight into the role of the key bifunctional magnetosome protein MamB, and the early steps of magnetosome formation.

A quantitative assessment of the membrane-integral sub-proteome of a bacterial magnetic organelle

Magnetotactic bacteria produce chains of complex membrane-bound organelles that direct the biomineralization of magnetic nanoparticles and serve for magnetic field navigation. These magnetosome compartments have recently emerged as a model for studying the subcellular organization of prokaryotic organelles. Previous studies indicated the presence of specific proteins with various functions in magnetosome biosynthesis. However, the exact composition and stoichiometry of the magnetosome subproteome have remained unknown. In order to quantify and unambiguously identify all proteins specifically targeted to the magnetosome membrane of the Alphaproteobacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense, we analyzed the protein composition of several cellular fractions by semi-quantitative mass spectrometry. We found that nearly all genuine magnetosome membrane-integral proteins belong to a well-defined set of previously identified proteins encoded by gene clusters within a genomic island, indicating a highly controlled protein composition. Magnetosome proteins were present in different quantities with up to 120 copies per particle as estimated by correlating our results with available quantitative Western blot data. This high abundance suggests an unusually crowded protein composition of the membrane and a tight packing with transmembrane domains of integral proteins. Our findings will help to further define the structure of the organelle and contribute to the elucidation of magnetosome biogenesis. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Magnetosomes are one of the most complex bacterial organelles and consist of membrane-bounded crystals of magnetic minerals. The exact composition and stoichiometry of the associated membrane integral proteins are of major interest for a deeper understanding of prokaryotic organelle assembly; however, previous proteomic studies failed to reveal meaningful estimations due to the lack of precise and quantitative data, and the inherently high degree of accumulated protein contaminants in purified magnetosomes. Using a highly sensitive mass spectrometer, we acquired proteomic data from several cellular fractions of a magnetosome producing magnetotactic bacterium and developed a comparative algorithm to identify all genuine magnetosome membrane-integral proteins and to discriminate them from contaminants. Furthermore, by combining our data with previously published quantitative Western blot data, we were able to model the protein copy number and density within the magnetosome membrane. Our results suggest that the magnetosome membrane is specifically associated with a small subset of integral proteins that are tightly packed within the lipid layer. Our study provides by far the most comprehensive estimation of magnetosomal protein composition and stoichiometry and will help to elucidate the complex process of magnetosome biogenesis.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-­1 and M. gryphiswaldense MSR-1 magnetosome-associated proteins MamA

MamA is a unique magnetosome-associated protein that is predicted to contain six sequential tetratricopeptide-repeat (TPR) motifs. The TPR structural motif serves as a template for protein-protein interactions and mediates the assembly of multi-protein complexes. Here, the crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of recombinant and purified Magnetospirillum magneticum and M. gryphiswaldense MamA are reported for the first time. M. gryphiswaldense MamADelta41 crystallized in the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 58.88, c = 144.09 A. M. magneticum MamADelta41 crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 44.75, b = 76.19, c = 105.05 A. X-ray diffraction data were collected to resolutions of 2.0 and 1.95 A, respectively.

Structural analysis of MamA, a magnetosome associated protein from two different Magnetospirillium species

Tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) is a structural motif found as such or forming part of a bigger fold in a wide range of proteins. It serves as a template for protein-protein interactions and mediates multiprotein complexes [1]. MamA is a unique, highly abundant, Magnetosome associated protein and predicted to contain 5 TPR motifs as well as predicted putative one. Magnetosome is a subcellular organelle that consists of a linear-chain assembly of inner membrane invaginations each able to biomineralize and enclose a ~50-nm crystal of magnetite or greigite. Magnetosome allows magnetotactic bacteria, a diverse group of aquatic microorganisms, to orientate themselves along geomagnetic fields in search of suitable environments [2]. MamA is one of the most characterized magnetosome-associated proteins in vivo and yet, its function is not clear [3-5]. Here, we report on the crystallization and structure analysis of recombinant M. magneticum (AMB-1) and M. gryphiswaldense (MSR-1) MamA deletion mutants. The structures were determined to a resolution of 2.0 Å and confirmed MamA fold as a five TPR motifs containing protein.