Yevgen O. Posokhov

Conformational switching of the diphtheria toxin T domain.

The diphtheria toxin T domain translocates the catalytic C domain across the endosomal membrane in response to acidification. To elucidate the role of histidine protonation in modulating pH-dependent membrane action of the T domain, we have used site-directed mutagenesis coupled with spectroscopic and physiological assays. Replacement of H257 with an arginine (but not with a glutamine) resulted in dramatic unfolding of the protein at neutral pH, accompanied by a substantial loss of helical structure and greatly increased exposure of the buried residues W206 and W281. This unfolding and spectral shift could be reversed by the interaction of the H257R mutant with model lipid membranes. Remarkably, this greatly unfolded mutant exhibited wild-type-like activity in channel formation, N-terminus translocation, and cytotoxicity assays. Moreover, membrane permeabilization caused by the H257R mutant occurs already at pH 6, where wild type protein is inactive. We conclude that protonation of H257 acts as a major component of the pH-dependent conformational switch, resulting in destabilization of the folded structure in solution and thereby promoting the initial membrane interactions necessary for translocation.

Kinetic Intermediate Reveals Staggered pH-Dependent Transitions along the Membrane Insertion Pathway of the Diphtheria Toxin T-Domain

The pH-triggered membrane insertion pathway of the T-domain of diphtheria toxin was studied using site-selective fluorescence labeling with subsequent application of several spectroscopic techniques (e.g., fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, FRET, lifetime quenching, and kinetic fluorescence). FCS measurements indicate that pH-dependent formation of the membrane-competent form depends only slightly on the amount of anionic lipids in the membrane. The subsequent transbilayer insertion, however, is strongly favored by anionic lipids. Kinetic FRET measurements between the donor-labeled T-domain and acceptor-labeled lipid vesicles demonstrate rapid membrane association at all pH values for which binding occurs. In contrast, the transmembrane insertion kinetics is significantly slower and is also both pH- and lipid-dependent. Analysis of kinetic behavior of binding and insertion indicates the presence of several interfacial intermediates on the insertion pathway of the T-domain, from soluble W-state to transmembrane T-state. Intermediate interfacial I-state can be trapped in membranes with low content of anionic lipids (10%). In membranes of greater anionic lipid content, another pH-dependent transition results in the formation of the insertion-competent state and subsequent transmembrane insertion. Comparison of the results of various kinetic and equilibrium experiments suggests that the pH dependences determining membrane association and transbilayer insertion transitions are different but staggered. Anionic lipids not only assist in formation of the insertion-competent form but also lower the kinetic barrier for the final insertion.

Membrane insertion pathway of annexin B12: thermodynamic and kinetic characterization by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching.

Experimental determination of the free energy stabilizing the structure of membrane proteins in their native lipid environment is undermined by the lack of appropriate methods and suitable model systems. Annexin B12 (ANX) is a soluble protein which reversibly inserts into lipid membranes under mildly acidic conditions, which makes it a good experimental model for thermodynamic studies of folding and stability of membrane proteins. Here we apply fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of ANX partitioning into large unilamellar vesicles containing either 25% or 75% anionic lipids. Membrane binding of ANX results in changes of autocorrelation time and amplitude, both of which are used in quantitative analysis. The thermodynamic scheme describing acid-induced membrane interactions of ANX considers two independent processes: pH-dependent formation of a membrane-competent form near the membrane interface and its insertion into the lipid bilayer. Our novel fluorescence lifetime topology method demonstrates that the insertion proceeds via an interfacial refolded intermediate state, which can be stabilized by anionic lipids. Lipid titration measurements are used to determine the free energy of both transmembrane insertion and interfacial penetration, which are found to be similar, approximately -10-12 kcal/mol. The formation of the membrane-competent form, examined in a lipid saturation experiment, was found to depend on the local proton concentration near the membrane interface, occurring with pK = 4.3 and involving the protonation of two residues. Our results demonstrate that fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is a convenient tool for the quantitative characterization of the energetics of transmembrane insertion and that pH-triggered ANX insertion is a useful model for studying the thermodynamic stability of membrane proteins.

pH-triggered conformational switching of the diphtheria toxin T-domain: the roles of N-terminal histidines.

pH-induced conformational switching is essential for functioning of diphtheria toxin, which undergoes a membrane insertion/translocation transition triggered by endosomal acidification as a key step of cellular entry. In order to establish the sequence of molecular rearrangements and side-chain protonation accompanying the formation of the membrane-competent state of the toxins translocation (T) domain, we have developed and applied an integrated approach that combines multiple techniques of computational chemistry [e.g., long-microsecond-range, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations; continuum electrostatics calculations; and thermodynamic integration (TI)] with several experimental techniques of fluorescence spectroscopy. TI calculations indicate that protonation of H257 causes the greatest destabilization of the native structure (6.9 kcal/mol), which is consistent with our early mutagenesis results. Extensive equilibrium MD simulations with a combined length of over 8 μs demonstrate that histidine protonation, while not accompanied by the loss of structural compactness of the T-domain, nevertheless results in substantial molecular rearrangements characterized by the partial loss of secondary structure due to unfolding of helices TH1 and TH2 and the loss of close contact between the C- and N-terminal segments. The structural changes accompanying the formation of the membrane-competent state ensure an easier exposure of the internal hydrophobic hairpin formed by helices TH8 and TH9, in preparation for its subsequent transmembrane insertion.

FCS Study of the Thermodynamics of Membrane Protein Insertion into the Lipid Bilayer Chaperoned by Fluorinated Surfactants

Experimental determination of the free energy (DeltaG) stabilizing the structure of membrane proteins (MPs) in their native environment has been hampered by the aggregation and precipitation of MPs outside the lipid bilayer. We recently demonstrated that the latter process can be prevented by the use of fluorinated surfactants, FTACs, that act as chaperones for MP insertion without partitioning in the membrane themselves. Here we combine the advantages of the chaperone-like ability of FTACs with the sensitivity of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements to determine DeltaG of bilayer insertion of model MPs. First, we calibrate our approach by examining the effects of chaperoned insertion on DeltaG of transmembrane insertion of Annexin B12. We find that a shorter-chained surfactant, FTAC-C6, for which the working concentration range of 0.05-0.2 mM falls below CMC = 0.33 mM, has a mild effect on an apparent DeltaG. In contrast, additions of a longer-chained FTAC-C8 (CMC = 0.03 mM) result in a steep and nonlinear concentration dependence of DeltaG. We then apply the same methodology to the pH-triggered insertion of diphtheria toxin T-domain, which is known to be affected by nonproductive aggregation in solution. We find that the correction of the DeltaG value needed to compensate for unchaperoned insertion of the T-domain exceeds 3 kcal/mole. A relatively shallow and linear dependence of the DeltaG for Annexin B12 and T-domain insertion on FTAC-C6 concentration is encouraging for future applications of this surfactant in thermodynamic studies of the stability of other MPs.

Thermodynamic measurements of bilayer insertion of a single transmembrane helix chaperoned by fluorinated surfactants.

Accurate determination of the free energy of transfer of a helical segment from an aqueous into a transmembrane (TM) conformation is essential for understanding and predicting the folding and stability of membrane proteins. Until recently, direct thermodynamically sound measurements of free energy of insertion of hydrophobic TM peptides were impossible due to peptide aggregation outside the lipid bilayer. Here, we overcome this problem by using fluorinated surfactants that are capable of preventing aggregation but, unlike detergents, do not themselves interact with the bilayer. We have applied the fluorescence correlation spectroscopy methodology to study surfactant-chaperoned insertion into preformed POPC (palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine) vesicles of the two well-studied dye-labeled TM peptides of different lengths: WALP23 and WALP27. Extrapolation of the apparent free-energy values measured in the presence of surfactants to a zero surfactant concentration yielded free-energy values of -9.0±0.1 and -10.0±0.1 kcal/mol for insertion of WALP23 and WALP27, respectively. Circular dichroism measurements confirmed helical structure of peptides in lipid bilayer, in the presence of surfactants, and in aqueous mixtures of organic solvents. From a combination of thermodynamic and conformational measurements, we conclude that the partitioning of a four-residue L-A-L-A segment in the context of a continuous helical conformation from an aqueous environment into the hydrocarbon core of the membrane has a favorable free energy of 1 kcal/mol. Our measurements, combined with the predictions of two independent experimental hydrophobicity scales, indicate that the per-residue cost of transfer of the helical backbone from water to the hydrocarbon core of the lipid bilayer is unfavorable and is equal to +2.13±0.17 kcal/mol.

STEADY-STATE AND TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING WITH TRANSITION METAL IONS AS SHORT-DISTANCE PROBES FOR PROTEIN CONFORMATION

A series of model dye-labeled histidine-containing peptides was used to investigate the nature of the quenching mechanism with Cu(2+) and Ni(2+). The strong reduction in steady-state fluorescence was found to be unaccompanied by any noticeable changes in lifetime kinetics. This static nature of quenching is not consistent with the dynamic Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) phenomenon, which was assumed to dominate the quenching mechanism, and is likely caused by shorter range orbital coupling. Our results indicate that the FRET-like sixth power of distance dependence of quenching cannot be automatically assumed for transition metal ions and that time-resolved measurements should be used to distinguish various quenching mechanisms.

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies of pH-Triggered Membrane Insertion of Diphtheria Toxin T-Domain

The pH-triggered membrane insertion pathway of the T-domain of diphtheria toxin was studied using site-selective fluorescence labeling with subsequent application of several spectroscopic techniques (e.g., fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, FRET, lifetime quenching and kinetic fluorescence). FCS measurements indicate that pH-dependent formation of the membrane-competent form depends only slightly on the amount of anionic lipids in the membrane. The subsequent transbilayer insertion, however, is strongly favored by anionic lipids. Kinetic FRET measurements between donor-labeled T-domain and acceptor-labeled lipid vesicles demonstrate rapid membrane association at all pH values for which binding occurs. In contrast, the transmembrane insertion kinetics is significantly slower, and is also both pH- and lipid-dependent. Analysis of kinetic behavior of binding and insertion indicates the presence of several interfacial intermediates on the insertion pathway of the T-domain, from soluble W-state to transmembrane T-state. Intermediate interfacial I-state can be trapped in membranes with low content of anionic lipids (10%). In membranes of greater anionic lipid content, another pH-dependent transition results in the formation of the insertion-competent state and subsequent transmembrane insertion. Comparison of the results of various kinetic and equilibrium experiments suggests that the pH-dependences determining membrane association and transbilayer insertion transitions are different, but staggered. Anionic lipids not only assist in formation of the insertion competent form, but also lower the kinetic barrier for the final insertion. Supported by NIH GM069783(-04S1).

Thermodynamics of Interfacial Membrane Binding and Transmembrane Insertion of Diphtheria Toxin T-Domain: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Study

Recent studies of kinetic behavior of binding and insertion of diphtheria toxin translocation domain (DTT) into lipid membranes [Kyrychenko et al. Biochemistry 2009, 48:7584] revealed the presence of several interfacial intermediates on the insertion pathway leading from soluble W-state to transmembrane T-state. It has been found that an intermediate interfacial I-state can be trapped in membranes with low content of anionic lipids (10%), while in membranes of greater anionic lipid content, another pH-dependent transition results in the formation of the insertion-competent state and subsequent transmembrane insertion. In this work we applied fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to determine the free energy (ΔG) stabilizing final transmembrane and interfacial intermediate states. To avoid aggregation of DTT and to chaperone its membrane insertion, the FCS measurements were performed in the presence of fluorinated surfactants FTAC-C6. Our results indicate that the free energy of binding (ΔG) to lipid vesicles with formation of trapped interfacial intermediate state is about −8 kcal/mole, and this ΔG value does not change with pH, while the ΔG difference between transmembrane state and the interfacial state ranges from −1.5÷-4 kcal/mole depending on membrane lipid composition and pH of media. Our results confirm the interface-directed model of spontaneous insertion of non-constitutive membrane proteins and provide an important benchmark for future measurements of ΔG stabilizing the structure of constitutive membrane proteins. Supported by NIH GM069783(-04S1)