Biomedical subjects

E Yvonne Jones

Publications and source records attributed to E Yvonne Jones.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Crystallographic and in silico analysis of the sialoside-binding characteristics of the Siglec sialoadhesin.

The Siglec family of receptors mediates cell-surface interactions through recognition of sialylated glycoconjugates. Previously reported structures of the N-terminal domain of the Siglec sialoadhesin (SnD1) in complex with various sialic acid analogs revealed the structural template for sialic acid binding. To characterize further the carbohydrate-binding properties, we have determined the crystal structures of SnD1 in the absence of ligand, and in complex with 2-benzyl-Neu5NPro and 2-benzyl-Neu5NAc. These structures reveal that SnD1 undergoes very few structural changes on ligand binding and detail how two novel classes of sialic acid analogs bind, one of which unexpectedly can induce Siglec dimerization. In conjunction with in silico analysis, this set of structures informs us about the design of putative ligands with enhanced binding affinities and specificities to different Siglecs, and provides data with which to test the effectiveness of different computational drug design protocols.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

A time- and cost-efficient system for high-level protein production in mammalian cells.

Most proteins for structural biology studies are produced by high-level expression in Escherichia coli. However, prokaryotic based expression systems fail to generate correctly folded functional forms of many proteins and hence a variety of eukaryotic based expression systems have been developed. Of these, yeast and baculovirus-infected insect cells currently represent the expression systems of choice for structural biologists. Here, protocols for a simple, fast and affordable method for transient protein expression in mammalian cells are reported. The results demonstrate that it combines several features necessary for the production of suitable samples for structural biology, in particular protein crystallography, namely high protein yield, straightforward purification, selenomethionine incorporation and control of N-linked glycosylation. The system is suitable for use in conventional laboratories or can be implemented in a medium- or high-throughput pipeline.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Eukaryotic expression: developments for structural proteomics.

The production of sufficient quantities of protein is an essential prelude to a structure determination, but for many viral and human proteins this cannot be achieved using prokaryotic expression systems. Groups in the Structural Proteomics In Europe (SPINE) consortium have developed and implemented high-throughput (HTP) methodologies for cloning, expression screening and protein production in eukaryotic systems. Studies focused on three systems: yeast (Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae), baculovirus-infected insect cells and transient expression in mammalian cells. Suitable vectors for HTP cloning are described and results from their use in expression screening and protein-production pipelines are reported. Strategies for co-expression, selenomethionine labelling (in all three eukaryotic systems) and control of glycosylation (for secreted proteins in mammalian cells) are assessed.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Strong TCR conservation and altered T cell cross-reactivity characterize a B*57-restricted immune response in HIV-1 infection.

HLA-B*57 is associated with slower disease progression to AIDS, and CD8+ T cell responses to B*57-restricted epitopes are thought to contribute to this protective effect. In this study, we evaluate the B*57-restricted p24 KAFSPEVIPMF (KF11) immune response which is immunodominant during chronic infection. Previously, we observed that the KF11 clade variants KGFNPEVIPMF [A2G,S4N] and KAFNPEIIMPF [S4N,V7I], sharing a position 4 mutation, are differentially recognized by KF11-specific T cells. By combining structural and cellular studies, we now demonstrate that the KF11 and [A2G,S4N] epitopes induce distinct functional responses in [A2G,S4N] and KF11-specific T cells, respectively, despite minimal structural differences between the individual B*57-peptide complexes. Recently, we also elucidated the highly distinct structure of KF11 in complex with B*5703, and have now characterized the CD8+ T cell repertoire recognizing this epitope. We now report striking features of TCR conservation both in terms of TCR Valpha and Vbeta chain usage, and throughout the hypervariable region. Collectively, our findings highlight unusual features of the B*5701/B*5703-KF11-specific immune responses which could influence disease progression and that might be important to consider when designing future vaccine regimens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Computational model for the IGF-II/IGF2r complex that is predictive of mutational and surface plasmon resonance data.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are key regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation, and transformation, and are thus pivotal in cancer, especially breast, prostate, and colon neoplasm. Their potent mitogenic and anti-apoptotic actions depend primarily on their availability to bind to the signaling IGF cell surface receptors. One mechanism by which IGF-II availability is thought to be modulated is by binding to the nonsignaling IGF-II receptor (IGF2R). This binding is essentially mediated by domain 11 in the multidomain IGF2R extracellular region. The crystal structure of domain 11 of the human IGF-II receptor (IGF2R-d11) has identified a putative IGF-II binding site, and a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution structure for the IGF-II ligand has also been characterized. These structures have now been used to model in silico the protein-protein interaction between IGF-II and IGF2R-d11 using the program 3D-Dock. Because the IGF-II data comprise an ensemble of 20 structures, all of which satisfy the NMR constraints, the docking procedure was applied to each member of the ensemble. Only those models in which residue Ile1572 of IGF2R-d11, known to be essential for the binding of IGF-II, was at the interface were considered further. These plausible complexes were then critically assessed using an array of analysis techniques including consideration of additional mutagenesis data. One model was strongly supported by these analyses and is discussed here in detail. Furthermore, we demonstrate in vitro experimental support for this model by studying the binding of chimeras of IGF-I and IGF-II to IGF2R fragments.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2006

Crystal structure and binding properties of the CD2 and CD244 (2B4)-binding protein, CD48.

The structural analysis of surface proteins belonging to the CD2 subset of the immunoglobulin superfamily has yielded important insights into transient cellular interactions. In mice and rats, CD2 and CD244 (2B4), which are expressed predominantly on T cells and natural killer cells, respectively, bind the same, broadly expressed ligand, CD48. Structures of CD2 and CD244 have been solved previously, and we now present the structure of the receptor-binding domain of rat CD48. The receptor-binding surface of CD48 is unusually flat, as in the case of rat CD2, and shares a high degree of electrostatic complementarity with the equivalent surface of CD2. The relatively simple arrangement of charged residues and this flat topology explain why CD48 cross-reacts with CD2 and CD244 and, in rats, with the CD244-related protein, 2B4R. Comparisons of modeled complexes of CD2 and CD48 with the complex of human CD2 and CD58 are suggestive of there being substantial plasticity in the topology of ligand binding by CD2. Thermodynamic analysis of the native CD48-CD2 interaction indicates that binding is driven by equivalent, weak enthalpic and entropic effects, in contrast to the human CD2-CD58 interaction, for which there is a large entropic barrier. Overall, the structural and biophysical comparisons of the CD2 homologues suggest that the evolutionary diversification of interacting cell surface proteins is rapid and constrained only by the requirement that binding remains weak and specific.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Inhibition of hybrid- and complex-type glycosylation reveals the presence of the GlcNAc transferase I-independent fucosylation pathway.

A mammalian N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase I (GnT I)-independent fucosylation pathway is revealed by the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and negative-ion nano-electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry of N-linked glycans from natively folded recombinant glycoproteins, expressed in both human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293S and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) Lec3.2.8.1 cells deficient in GnT I activity. The biosynthesis of core fucosylated Man5GlcNAc2 glycans was enhanced in CHO Lec3.2.8.1 cells by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ), leading to the increase in core fucosylated Man5GlcNAc2 glycans and the biosynthesis of a novel core fucosylated monoglucosylated oligomannose glycan, Glc1Man7GlcNAc2Fuc. Furthermore, no fucosylated Man9GlcNAc2 glycans were detected following inhibition of alpha-mannosidase I with kifunensine. Thus, core fucosylation is prevented by the presence of terminal alpha1-2 mannoses on the 6-antennae but not the 3-antennae of the trimannosyl core. Fucosylated Man5GlcNAc2 glycans were also detected on recombinant glycoprotein from HEK 293T cells following inhibition of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II with swainsonine. The paucity of fucosylated oligomannose glycans in wild-type mammalian cells is suggested to be due to kinetic properties of the pathway rather than the absence of the appropriate catalytic activity. The presence of the GnT I-independent fucosylation pathway is an important consideration when engineering mammalian glycosylation.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗

PubMed2006

Kinetics of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) interaction with domain 11 of the human IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor: function of CD and AB loop solvent-exposed residues.

Ligands of the IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF2R) include IGF-II and mannose 6-phosphate modified proteins. Disruption of the negative regulatory effects of IGF2R on IGF-II-induced growth can lead to embryonic lethality and cancer promotion. Of the 15 IGF2R extracellular domains, domains 1-3 and 11 are known to have a conserved beta-barrel structure similar to that of avidin and the cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor, yet only domain 11 binds IGF-II with high specificity and affinity. In order to define the functional basis of this critical biological interaction, we performed alanine mutagenesis of structurally determined solvent-exposed loop residues of the IGF-II-binding site of human domain 11, expressed these mutant forms in Pichia pastoris, and determined binding kinetics with human IGF-II using isothermal calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance with transition state thermodynamics. Two hydrophobic residues in the CD loop (F1567 and I1572) were essential for binding, with a further non-hydrophobic residue (T1570) that slows the dissociation rate. Aside from alanine mutations of AB loop residues that decrease affinity by modifying dissociation rates (e.g. Y1542), a novel mutation (E1544A) of the AB loop enhanced affinity by threefold compared to wild-type. Conversion from an acidic to a basic residue at this site (E1544K) results in a sixfold enhancement of affinity via modification principally of the association rate, with enhanced salt-dependence, decreased entropic barrier and retained specificity. These data suggest that a functional hydrophobic binding site core is formed by I1572 and F1567 located in the CD loop, which initially anchors IGF-II. Within the AB loop, residues normally act to either stabilise or function as negative regulators of the interaction. These findings have implications for the molecular architecture and evolution of the domain 11 IGF-II-binding site, and the potential interactions with other domains of IGF2R.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Structure and binding kinetics of three different human CD1d-alpha-galactosylceramide-specific T cell receptors.

Invariant human TCR Valpha24-Jalpha18+/Vbeta11+ NKT cells (iNKT) are restricted by CD1d-alpha-glycosylceramides. We analyzed crystal structures and binding characteristics for an iNKT TCR plus two CD1d-alpha-GalCer-specific Vbeta11+ TCRs that use different TCR Valpha chains. The results were similar to those previously reported for MHC-peptide-specific TCRs, illustrating the versatility of the TCR platform. Docking TCR and CD1d-alpha-GalCer structures provided plausible insights into their interaction. The model supports a diagonal orientation of TCR on CD1d and suggests that complementarity determining region (CDR)3alpha, CDR3beta, and CDR1beta interact with ligands presented by CD1d, whereas CDR2beta binds to the CD1d alpha1 helix. This docking provides an explanation for the dominant usage of Vbeta11 and Vbeta8.2 chains by human and mouse iNKT cells, respectively, for recognition of CD1d-alpha-GalCer.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The crystal structure of H-2D(b) complexed with a partial peptide epitope suggests a major histocompatibility complex class I assembly intermediate.

In the absence of bound peptide ligands, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules are unstable. In an attempt to determine the minimum requirement for peptide-dependent MHC class I stabilization, we have used short synthetic peptides derived from the Sendai virus nucleoprotein epitope (residues 324-332, 1FAPGNYPAL9) to promote its folding in vitro of H-2D(b). We found that H-2D(b) can be stabilized by the pentapeptide 5NYPAL9, which is equivalent to the C-terminal portion of the optimal nonapeptide and includes both the P5 and P9 anchor residues. We have crystallized the complex of the H-2D(b) molecule with the pentamer and determined the structure to show how a quasi-stable MHC class I molecule can be formed by occupancy of a single binding pocket in the peptide-binding groove.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Conflicting selective forces affect T cell receptor contacts in an immunodominant human immunodeficiency virus epitope.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are critical for the control of human immunodeficiency virus, but containment of virus replication can be undermined by mutations in CTL epitopes that lead to virus escape. We analyzed the evolution in vivo of an immunodominant, HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope and found two principal, diametrically opposed evolutionary pathways that exclusively affect T cell-receptor contact residues. One pathway was characterized by acquisition of CTL escape mutations and the other by selection for wild-type amino acids. The pattern of CTL responses to epitope variants shaped which variant(s) prevailed in the virus population. The pathways notably influenced the amount of plasma virus, as patients with efficient CTL selection had lower plasma viral loads than did patients without efficient selection. Thus, viral escape from CTL responses does not necessarily correlate with disease progression.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The structure of the human allo-ligand HLA-B*3501 in complex with a cytochrome p450 peptide: steric hindrance influences TCR allo-recognition.

Virus-specific T cell populations have been implicated in allo-recognition. The subdominant T cell receptor JL12 recognizes both HLA-B*0801 presenting the Epstein-Barr virus-derived peptide FLRGRAYGL and also HLA-B*3501 presenting the cytochrome p450 self peptide KPIVVLHGY. This cross-reactivity could promote the rejection of HLA-B*3501-positive cells in Epstein-Barr virus-exposed HLA-B*0801 recipients. LC13, the dominant TCR against the HLA-B*0801:FLRGRAYGL complex, fails to recognize HLA-B*3501:KPIVVLHGY. We report the 1.75-Angstrom resolution crystal structure of the human allo-ligand HLA-B*3501:KPIVVLHGY. Similarities between this structure and that of HLA-B*0801:FLRGRAYGL may facilitate cross-recognition by JL12. Moreover, the elevated peptide position in HLA-B*3501:KPIVVLHGY would provide steric hindrance to LC13, preventing it from interacting in the manner in which it interacts with HLA-B*0801:FLRGRAYGL. These findings are relevant to understanding the basis of T cell cross-reactivity in allo-recognition, optimal transplant donor-recipient matching and developing specific molecular inhibitors of allo-recognition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

The C-terminal SH3 domain of CRKL as a dynamic dimerization module transiently exposing a nuclear export signal.

CRKL plays essential roles in cell signaling. It consists of an N-terminal SH2 domain followed by two SH3 domains. SH2 and SH3N bind to signaling proteins, but the function of the SH3C domain has remained largely enigmatic. We show here that the SH3C of CRKL forms homodimers in protein crystals and in solution. Evidence for dimer formation of full-length CRKL is also presented. In the SH3C dimer, a nuclear export signal (NES) is mostly buried under the domain surface. The same is true for a monomeric SH3C obtained under different crystallization conditions. Interestingly, partial SH3 unfolding, such as occurs upon dimer/monomer transition, produces a fully-accessible NES through translocation of a single beta strand. Our results document the existence of an SH3 domain dimer formed through exchange of the first SH3 domain beta strand and suggest that partial unfolding of the SH3C is important for the relay of information in vivo.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2006

MHC class II proteins and disease: a structural perspective.

MHC class II molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells display a range of peptides for recognition by the T-cell receptors of CD4+ T helper cells. Therefore, MHC class II molecules are central to effective adaptive immune responses, but conversely, genetic and epidemiological data have implicated these molecules in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Indeed, the strength of the associations between particular MHC class II alleles and disease render them the main genetic risk factors for autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes. Here, we discuss the insights that the crystal structures of MHC class II molecules provide into the molecular mechanisms by which sequence polymorphisms might contribute to disease susceptibility.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

PubMed2005

Structure determination of human semaphorin 4D as an example of the use of MAD in non-optimal cases.

Semaphorins are an important class of signalling molecules involved in axon guidance, immune function and angiogenesis. They are characterized by having an extracellular sema domain of about 500 residues. The steps involved in the determination of the structure of human semaphorin 4D are described here as a case study of selenium MAD phasing in a difficult case with low symmetry, moderate diffraction and low selenium content. A particular feature of this study was the large number of diffraction images required to give data of sufficient quality for structure determination and these data are re-analyzed here to investigate the effects of radiation damage on eventual data quality and to suggest strategies for successful MAD phasing in similar difficult cases.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed2005

High-resolution structure of the catalytic region of MICAL (molecule interacting with CasL), a multidomain flavoenzyme-signaling molecule.

Semaphorins are extracellular cell guidance cues that govern cytoskeletal dynamics during neuronal and vascular development. MICAL (molecule interacting with CasL) is a multidomain cytosolic protein with a putative flavoprotein monooxygenase (MO) region required for semaphorin-plexin repulsive axon guidance. Here, we report the 1.45-A resolution crystal structure of the FAD-containing MO domain of mouse MICAL-1 (residues 1-489). The topology most closely resembles that of the NADPH-dependent flavoenzyme p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH). Comparison of structures before and after reaction with NADPH reveals that, as in PHBH, the flavin ring can switch between two discrete positions. In contrast with other MOs, this conformational switch is coupled with the opening of a channel to the active site, suggestive of a protein substrate. In support of this hypothesis, distinctive structural features highlight putative protein-binding sites in suitable proximity to the active site entrance. The unusual juxtaposition of this N-terminal MO (hydroxylase) activity with the characteristics of a multiprotein-binding scaffold exhibited by the C-terminal portion of the MICALs represents a unique combination of functionality to mediate signaling.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Genetic variation in the type 2 insulin-like growth factor receptor gene and disparity in childhood height.

OBJECTIVE: The type 2 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF2R) is thought to regulate insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) bioavailability by degrading it in the lysosomes after uptake. We hypothesised that polymorphisms in the IGF2R gene could alter size at birth and childhood growth. DESIGN AND METHODS: The hypothesis was tested in a normal birth cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) by genotyping the IGF2R gene gly1619arg polymorphism, which causes a non-conservative amino acid change in the IGF-II binding region, using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: The IGF2R gly1619arg genotype was not associated with any measure of size at birth, but A/A homozygotes grew more slowly, as determined by their change in height standard deviation scores (SDS) over the first three years (-0.70 (0.72); n = 12), than G/G homozygotes (0.00 (1.09); n = 561) (p = 0.03). They remained shorter during childhood and by the age of 7 years respective height SDS were: 0.73 (1.02) (n = 12) and 0.01 (0.99) (n = 634) (p = 0.01). These height differences persisted after adjusting for parental heights and gender. There were no detectable differences in weights at 7 years. CONCLUSION: Allelic variation in the gly1619arg SNP of the IGF2R gene is associated with disparity in childhood stature which could reflect altered binding of IGF-II to its receptor.

Alleles↗

PubMed2005

MHC II molecules in inflammatory diseases: interplay of qualities and quantities.

It is generally accepted that MHC II molecules confer susceptibility to inflammatory diseases because of the different abilities they possess for binding and presenting peptides to T cells. A new study suggests that the level of MHC II gene expression is also a risk factor for such diseases. It shows that a polymorphism in the promoter of the MHC II transactivator (MHC2TA) gene (which encodes CIITA), leads to reduced MHC2TA expression, and hence reduced production of MHC II molecules. This predisposes to rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and myocardial infarction.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗