Vladimir V. Isaev-Ivanov

Fractal nature of chromatin organization in interphase chicken erythrocyte nuclei: DNA structure exhibits biphasic fractal properties

Arrangement of chromatin in intact chicken erythrocyte nuclei was investigated by small angle neutron scattering. The scattering spectra have revealed that on the scales between 15 nm and 1.5 μm the interior of the nucleus exhibited properties of a mass fractal. The fractal dimension of the protein component of cell nucleus held constant at approximately 2.5, while the DNA organization was biphasic, with the fractal dimension slightly higher than 2 on the scales smaller than 300 nm and approaching 3 on the larger scales.

Structural hierarchy of chromatin in chicken erythrocyte nuclei based on small-angle neutron scattering: Fractal nature of the large-scale chromatin organization

The chromatin organization in chicken erythrocyte nuclei was studied by small-angle neutron scattering in the scattering-vector range from 1.5 × 10−1 to 10−4 Å−1 with the use of the contrast-variation technique. This scattering-vector range corresponds to linear dimensions from 4 nm to 6 μm and covers the whole hierarchy of chromatin structures, from the nucleosomal structure to the entire nucleus. The results of the present study allowed the following conclusions to be drawn: (1) both the chromatin-protein structure and the structure of the nucleic acid component in chicken erythrocyte nuclei have mass-fractal properties, (2) the structure of the protein component of chromatin exhibits a fractal behavior on scales extending over two orders of magnitude, from the nucleosomal size to the size of an entire nucleus, and (3) the structure of the nucleic acid component of chromatin in chicken erythrocyte nuclei is likewise of a fractal nature and has two levels of organization or two phases with the crossover point at about 300–400 nm.

Structure of RecX protein complex with the presynaptic RecA filament: Molecular dynamics simulations and small angle neutron scattering

Using molecular modeling techniques we have built the full atomic structure and performed molecular dynamics simulations for the complexes formed by Escherichia coli RecX protein with a single‐stranded oligonucleotide and with RecA presynaptic filament. Based on the modeling and SANS experimental data a sandwich‐like filament structure formed two chains of RecX monomers bound to the opposite sides of the single stranded DNA is proposed for RecX::ssDNA complex. The model for RecX::RecA::ssDNA include RecX binding into the grove of RecA::ssDNA filament that occurs mainly via Coulomb interactions between RecX and ssDNA. Formation of RecX::RecA::ssDNA filaments in solution was confirmed by SANS measurements which were in agreement with the spectra computed from the molecular dynamics simulations.

Analytical model for determination of parameters of helical structures in solution by small angle scattering: comparison of RecA structures by SANS

The filament structures of the self‐polymers of RecA proteins from Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, their complexes with ATPγS, phage M13 single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) and the tertiary complexes RecA::ATPγS::ssDNA were compared by small angle neutron scattering. A model was developed that allowed for an analytical solution for small angle scattering on a long helical filament, making it possible to obtain the helical pitch and the mean diameter of the protein filament from the scattering curves. The results suggest that the structure of the filaments formed by these two RecA proteins, and particularly their complexes with ATPγS, is conservative.

Conformational flexibility of RecA protein filament: transitions between compressed and stretched states.

RecA protein is a central enzyme in homologous DNA recombination, repair and other forms of DNA metabolism in bacteria. It functions as a flexible helix‐shaped filament bound on stretched single‐stranded or double‐stranded DNA in the presence of ATP. In this work, we present an atomic level model for conformational transitions of the RecA filament. The model describes small movements of the RecA N‐terminal domain due to coordinated rotation of main chain dihedral angles of two amino acid residues (Psi/Lys23 and Phi/Gly24), while maintaining unchanged the RecA intersubunit interface. The model is able to reproduce a wide range of observed helix pitches in transitions between compressed and stretched conformations of the RecA filament. Predictions of the model are in agreement with Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) measurements of the filament helix pitch in RecA::ADP‐AlF4 complex at various salt concentrations. Proteins 2006.

Modeling and small-angle neutron scattering spectra of chromatin supernucleosomal structures at genome scale

Eukaryotic genome is a highly compacted nucleoprotein complex organized in a hierarchical structure based on nucleosomes. Detailed organization of this structure remains unknown. In the present work we developed algorithms for geometry modeling of the supernucleosomal chromatin structure and for computing distance distribution functions and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) spectra of the genome-scale (∼106 nucleosomes) chromatin structure at residue resolution. Our physical nucleosome model was based on the mononucleosome crystal structure. A nucleosome was assumed to be rigid within a local coordinate system. Interface parameters between nucleosomes can be set for each nucleosome independently. Pair distance distributions were computed with Monte Carlo simulation. SANS spectra were calculated with Fourier transformation of weighted distance distribution; the concentration of heavy water in solvent and probability of H/D exchange were taken into account. Two main modes of supernucleosomal structure generation were used. In a free generation mode all interface parameters were chosen randomly, whereas nucleosome self-intersections were not allowed. The second generation mode (generation in volume) enabled spherical or cubical wall restrictions. It was shown that calculated SANS spectra for a number of our models were in general agreement with available experimental data.Eukaryotic genome is a highly compacted nucleoprotein complex organized in a hierarchical structure based on nucleosomes. Detailed organization of this structure remains unknown. In the present work we developed algorithms for geometry modeling of the supernucleosomal chromatin structure and for computing distance distribution functions and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) spectra of the genome-scale (∼106 nucleosomes) chromatin structure at residue resolution. Our physical nucleosome model was based on the mononucleosome crystal structure. A nucleosome was assumed to be rigid within a local coordinate system. Interface parameters between nucleosomes can be set for each nucleosome independently. Pair distance distributions were computed with Monte Carlo simulation. SANS spectra were calculated with Fourier transformation of weighted distance distribution; the concentration of heavy water in solvent and probability of H/D exchange were taken into account. Two main modes of supernucleosomal structure g...

Large-scale mobility of RecA protein filaments in solution by molecular dynamics simulation and neutron spin echo

The calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) is a 37 amino acid neuropeptide. Its receptor is a heterodimeric complex of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) – a family B G-protein coupled receptor – and a single-pass transmembrane protein, receptoractivity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1). Here, we identify residues, within the N-terminal extracellular domain (ECD) of CLR, potentially involved in ligand binding.Certain residues presumed to be possible sites of contact for the CGRP were picked from the CLR/RAMP1 ECD crystal structure (PDB 3N7S). Residues were mutated to alanine (A) bysite-directed mutagenesis (QuikChangeTM, Stratagene). Mutants were analysed for their ability to stimulate cAMP and cell surface expression as previously described [1]. All mutants showed reduced potency, though to varying degrees as indicated by their pEC50 values. W69A and D70Ashowed significant reduction in cell surface expression.These findings suggest that these residues are important for the interaction of CGRP with its receptor. W69A and D70A, part of the WDG motif of family B GPCRs, are thought to rather play a role in receptor stability [2]. The data is consistent with CGRP binding in agroove between CLR and RAMP1. This project was supported byAston School of Life and Health Sciences.References1. Barwell J, Conner A & Poyner D (2011) Extracellular loops 1and 3 and their associated transmembrane regions of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor are needed for CGRP receptor function. Biochim Biophys Acta 1813, 1906–1916.2. Kumar S, Pioszak A, Zhang C et al. (2011) Crystal Structure of the PAC1R Extracellular Domain Unifies a Consensus Fold for Hormone Recognition by Class B G-Protein Cou-pled Receptors. PLoS One 6, e19682

SANS spectra of the fractal supernucleosomal chromatin structure models

The eukaryotic genome consists of chromatin—a nucleoprotein complex with hierarchical architecture based on nucleosomes, the organization of higher-order chromatin structures still remains unknown. Available experimental data, including SANS spectra we had obtained for whole nuclei, suggested fractal nature of chromatin. Previously we had built random-walk supernucleosomal models (up to 106 nucleosomes) to interpret our SANS spectra. Here we report a new method to build fractal supernucleosomal structure of a given fractal dimension or two different dimensions. Agreement between calculated and experimental SANS spectra was significantly improved, especially for model with two fractal dimensions—3 and 2.

Large-scale structure of RecA protein from Deinococcus radiodurance and its complexes in solution

Different conformational states of the filaments formed by RecA protein from a radiation resistant strain Deinococcus radiodurance (RecA Dr ) in solution were investigated using small angle neutron scattering. Scattering by the protein self-polymer was consistent with a long helix model, with the pitch of the helix being lower than that in the crystal structure. Compared to those of RecA proteins from Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, helical filaments of RecA from D. radiodurance exhibited a lower helical pitch and lower stability at low Mg 2+ concentrations or under conditions of elevated ionic strength in the absence of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Formation of an active filament upon binding of ATPyS and either single- or double-stranded DNA brought about a significant increase in the helix pitch and a moderate decrease in the cross-sectional gyration radius, but resulted in little change in the number of monomers per helix turn. The helix pitch value of the RecA Dr presynaptic complex was conservative and close to that found for other RecA proteins and their analogs.