Takeshi Murata

Generation of functional antibodies for mammalian membrane protein crystallography.

Membrane proteins act as gateways to cells, and they are responsible for much of the communication between cells and their environments. Crystallography of membrane proteins is often limited by the difficulty of crystallization in detergent micelles. Co-crystallization with antibody fragments has been reported as a method to facilitate the crystallization of membrane proteins; however, it is widely known that the generation of mouse monoclonal antibodies that recognize the conformational epitopes of mammalian integral membrane proteins is typically difficult. Here, we present our protocols to generate functional mouse antibodies for the membrane protein crystallography, which have enabled us to solve crystal structures of mammalian receptors and transporters complexed with antibody fragments.

Determination of double bond positions in polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters by combined gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract Trimethylsilylated methyl esters of octadecadienoic, eicosadienoic, and octadecatrienoic acids, after stereospecific oxidation, were investigated by combined gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Molecular weight could be determined by the ions at m e (M −11) + and ( M + 73) + and the characteristic ions derived from the sequential elimination of trimethylsilanols from a protonated molecule M H + . The position of original double bonds could be deduced from the recognizable ions which were produced by the cleavage of carbon-carbon bonds between the two trimethylsilyl ethers. The mode of fragmentation was confirmed by the mass spectra of deuteriomethyl derivatives of linoleic acid.

Sodium or Lithium Ion-Binding-Induced Structural Changes in the K-Ring of V-ATPase from Enterococcus hirae Revealed by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy

V-ATPase from Enterococcus hirae forms a large supramolecular protein complex (total molecular weight ∼700,000) and physiologically transports Na(+) and Li(+) across a hydrophobic lipid bilayer. Stabilization of these cations in the binding site has been discussed on the basis of X-ray crystal structures of a membrane-embedded domain, the K-ring (Na(+)- and Li(+)-bound forms). Here, sodium or lithium ion-binding-induced difference IR spectra of the intact V-ATPase have for the first time been measured at physiological temperature under a sufficient amount of hydration. The results suggest that sodium or lithium ion binding induces the deprotonation of Glu139, a hydrogen-bonding change in the tyrosine residue, and a small conformational change in the K-ring. These structural changes, especially the deprotonation of Glu139, are considered to be important for reducing energetic barriers to the transport of cations through the membrane.

Torque Generation of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase

Background: Torque generation is important for the energy conversion of rotary ATPases. Results: Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase (EhVoV1) generated larger torque than isolated EhV1. Conclusion: Rotor-stator interactions in EhVoV1 are stabilized by the two peripheral stalks to generate larger torque compared with EhV1. Significance: Torques generated by intact V-ATPase and isolated V1 moiety have been compared quantitatively for the first time. V-ATPase (VoV1) converts the chemical free energy of ATP into an ion-motive force across the cell membrane via mechanical rotation. This energy conversion requires proper interactions between the rotor and stator in VoV1 for tight coupling among chemical reaction, torque generation, and ion transport. We developed an Escherichia coli expression system for Enterococcus hirae VoV1 (EhVoV1) and established a single-molecule rotation assay to measure the torque generated. Recombinant and native EhVoV1 exhibited almost identical dependence of ATP hydrolysis activity on sodium ion and ATP concentrations, indicating their functional equivalence. In a single-molecule rotation assay with a low load probe at high ATP concentration, EhVoV1 only showed the “clear” state without apparent backward steps, whereas EhV1 showed two states, “clear” and “unclear.” Furthermore, EhVoV1 showed slower rotation than EhV1 without the three distinct pauses separated by 120° that were observed in EhV1. When using a large probe, EhVoV1 showed faster rotation than EhV1, and the torque of EhVoV1 estimated from the continuous rotation was nearly double that of EhV1. On the other hand, stepping torque of EhV1 in the clear state was comparable with that of EhVoV1. These results indicate that rotor-stator interactions of the Vo moiety and/or sodium ion transport limit the rotation driven by the V1 moiety, and the rotor-stator interactions in EhVoV1 are stabilized by two peripheral stalks to generate a larger torque than that of isolated EhV1. However, the torque value was substantially lower than that of other rotary ATPases, implying the low energy conversion efficiency of EhVoV1.

Crystal structures of the ATP-binding and ADP-release dwells of the V1 rotary motor

V1-ATPases are highly conserved ATP-driven rotary molecular motors found in various membrane systems. We recently reported the crystal structures for the Enterococcus hirae A3B3DF (V1) complex, corresponding to the catalytic dwell state waiting for ATP hydrolysis. Here we present the crystal structures for two other dwell states obtained by soaking nucleotide-free V1 crystals in ADP. In the presence of 20u2009μM ADP, two ADP molecules bind to two of three binding sites and cooperatively induce conformational changes of the third site to an ATP-binding mode, corresponding to the ATP-binding dwell. In the presence of 2u2009mM ADP, all nucleotide-binding sites are occupied by ADP to induce conformational changes corresponding to the ADP-release dwell. Based on these and previous findings, we propose a V1-ATPase rotational mechanism model.

Rotational mechanism of Enterococcus hirae V1-ATPase by crystal-structure and single-molecule analyses.

In ion-transporting rotary ATPases, the mechanical rotation of inner rotor subunits against other stator subunits in the complex mediates conversion of chemical free energy from ATP hydrolysis into electrochemical potential by pumping ions across the cell membrane. To fully understand the rotational mechanism of energy conversion, it is essential to analyze a target sample by multiple advanced methods that differ in spatiotemporal resolutions and sample environments. Here, we describe such a strategy applied to the water-soluble V1 moiety of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase; this strategy involves integration of crystal structure studies and single-molecule analysis of rotary dynamics and torque generation. In addition, we describe our current model of the chemo-mechanical coupling scheme obtained by this approach, as well as future prospects.

Identification of Thermostabilizing Mutations for Membrane Proteins: Rapid Method Based on Statistical Thermodynamics

Membrane proteins are responsible for the communication between cells and their environments. They are indispensable to the expression of life phenomena and also implicated in a number of diseases. Nevertheless, the studies on membrane proteins are far behind those on water-soluble proteins, primarily due to their low structural stability. Introduction of mutations can enhance their thermostability and stability in detergents, but the stabilizing mutations are currently identified by experiments. The recently reported computational methods suffer such drawbacks as the exploration of only limited mutational space and the empiricism whose results are difficult to physically interpret. Here we develop a rapid method that allows us to treat all of the possible mutations. It employs a free-energy function (FEF) that takes into account the translational entropy of hydrocarbon groups within the lipid bilayer as well as the protein intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The method is illustrated for the adenosine A2a receptor whose wild-type structure is known and utilized. We propose a reliable strategy of finding key residues to be mutated and selecting their mutations, which will lead to considerably higher stability. Representative single mutants predicted to be stabilizing or destabilizing were experimentally examined and the success rate was found to be remarkably high. The melting temperature Tm for two of them was substantially higher than that of the wild type. A double mutant with even higher Tm was also obtained. Our FEF captures the essential physics of the stability changes upon mutations.

Molecular structure and rotary dynamics of Enterococcus hirae V1‐ATPase

V1‐ATPase is a rotary molecular motor in which the mechanical rotation of the rotor DF subunits against the stator A3B3 ring is driven by the chemical free energy of ATP hydrolysis. Recently, using X‐ray crystallography, we solved the high‐resolution molecular structure of Enterococcus hirae V1‐ATPase (EhV1) and revealed how the three catalytic sites in the stator A3B3 ring change their structure on nucleotide binding and interaction with the rotor DF subunits. Furthermore, recently, we also demonstrated directly the rotary catalysis of EhV1 by using single‐molecule high‐speed imaging and analyzed the properties of the rotary motion in detail. In this critical review, we introduce the molecular structure and rotary dynamics of EhV1 and discuss a possible model of its chemomechanical coupling scheme.

Loose Binding of the DF Axis with the A3B3 Complex Stimulates the Initial Activity of Enterococcus hirae V1-ATPase

Vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPases) function as proton pumps in various cellular membrane systems. The hydrophilic V1 portion of the V-ATPase is a rotary motor, in which a central-axis DF complex rotates inside a hexagonally arranged catalytic A3B3 complex by using ATP hydrolysis energy. We have previously reported crystal structures of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase A3B3 and A3B3DF (V1) complexes; the result suggested that the DF axis induces structural changes in the A3B3 complex through extensive protein-protein interactions. In this study, we mutated 10 residues at the interface between A3B3 and DF complexes and examined the ATPase activities of the mutated V1 complexes as well as the binding affinities between the mutated A3B3 and DF complexes. Surprisingly, several V1 mutants showed higher initial ATPase activities than wild-type V1-ATPase, whereas these mutated A3B3 and DF complexes showed decreased binding affinities for each other. However, the high ATP hydrolysis activities of the mutants decreased faster over time than the activity of the wild-type V1 complex, suggesting that the mutants were unstable in the reaction because the mutant A3B3 and DF complexes bound each other more weakly. These findings suggest that strong interaction between the DF complex and A3B3 complex lowers ATPase activity, but also that the tight binding is responsible for the stable ATPase activity of the complex.

Rotation Mechanism of Molecular Motor V1-ATPase Studied by Multiscale Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Enterococcus hirae V1-ATPase is a molecular motor composed of the A3B3 hexamer ring and the central stalk. In association with ATP hydrolysis, three catalytic AB pairs in the A3B3 ring undergo conformational changes, which lead to a 120° rotation of the central stalk. To understand how the conformational changes of three catalytic pairs induce the 120° rotation of the central stalk, we performed multiscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in which coarse-grained and all-atom MD simulations were combined using a fluctuation matching methodology. During the rotation, a catalytic AB pair spontaneously adopted an intermediate conformation, which was not included in the initial inputs of the simulations and was essentially close to the “bindable-like” structure observed in a recently solved crystal structure. Furthermore, the creation of a space between the bindable-like and tight pairs was required for the central stalk to rotate without steric hindrance. These cooperative rearrangements of the three catalytic pairs are crucial for the rotation of the central stalk.