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Biomedical subjects

J Nyborg

Publications and source records attributed to J Nyborg.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Purification and crystallization of the ternary complex of elongation factor Tu:GTP and Phe-tRNA(Phe).

Elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) is the most abundant protein in prokaryotic cells. Its general function in protein biosynthesis is well established. It is a member of the large family of G-proteins, all of which bind guanosine phosphates (GDP or GTP) as cofactors. In its active GTP bound state EF-Tu binds aminoacylated tRNA (aa-tRNA) forming the ternary complex EF-Tu:GTP:aa-tRNA. The ternary complex interacts with the ribosome where the anticodon on tRNA recognises a codon on mRNA, GTPase activity is induced and inactive EF-Tu:GDP is released. Here we report the successful crystallization of a ternary complex of Thermus aquaticus EF-Tu:GDPNP and yeast Phe-tRNA(Phe) after its purification by HPLC.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Crystallization of human methylamine-treated complement C3 and C3b.

Human methylamine-treated complement C3 (C3-MA) and C3b (C3b-MA) have been crystallized using ammonium sulfate as precipitant. The crystals of the two compounds are morphologically indistinguishable though they belong to different space groups. We show that only minor alterations in packing are responsible for the change in space group. Crystals of C3-MA are tetragonal [P4(1(3))22, a = b = 135, c = 610 A] with two molecules per asymmetric unit. Crystals of C3b-MA are also tetragonal [P4(1(3))2(1)2, a = b = 191, c = 610 A] with four molecules per asymmetric unit. The maximum diffraction observed is 7.7 A at cryogenic temperature using synchrotron radiation.

Journal Article↗

Structure determination of glucose isomerase from Streptomyces murinus at 2.6 A resolution.

Glucose isomerase from Streptomyces murinus has been crystallized in space group P4(1)2(1)2, cell dimensions a = b = 137.65 and c = 132.20 A. One dimer of the tetrametric molecule is found per asymmetric unit. An initial structure solution was obtained by the molecular replacement method. The crystallographic refinement was performed using molecular dynamics techniques with X-ray restraints. The final crystallographic R value is 21.4% at 2.6 A resolution including 3023 non-H atoms, two metal ions and two water molecules per monomer.

Journal Article↗

Dissection of the DNA-binding domain of Xenopus laevis TFIIIA. Quantitative DNase I footprinting analysis of specific complexes between a 5 S RNA gene fragment and N-terminal fragments of TFIIIA containing three, four or five zinc-finger domains.

Recombinant zinc finger proteins corresponding to N-terminal fragments of Xenopus laevis transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) comprising three, four and five fingers produced in Escherichia coli as cleavable hybrid proteins were shown to form specific stoichiometric complexes with DNA fragments containing the internal control region (ICR) of a 5 S RNA gene. The ordered set of DNase I footprints of each of the three proteins on the ICR comprise a nested set of footprints extending upstream from its 3' end (position +96 relative to start of the mature transcript) 20 bp, 20 bp or 34 bp into the ICR, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the footprinting data provided firm evidence that the DNase I footprint, and hence the structure, of the authentic TFIIIA:ICR complex in this region is fully and precisely accounted for by the N-terminal three fingers binding within the +77 to +96 region plus the pair of fingers 4 and 5, both required to extend the footprint upwards from the +77 to the +63 position. A structural interpretation of this set of new footprinting data in view of previous results and data is presented and discussed in terms of a refined model in which the protein-DNA interaction between the ICR and the three N-terminal fingers corresponds closely to that observed in the homologous three-finger zif268:DNA complex, whereas the basic mode of protein-DNA interaction, in which the pair of fingers 4 and 5 is engaged in forming the TFIIIA:ICR complex is of an entirely different, albeit not yet understood nature. To allow assessment of our model in terms of potential specificity-determining H-bonding patterns, a molecular model of the complex between the three-finger TFIIIA fragment and the ICR was constructed, using the zif268:DNA co-ordinates. Eight out of the nine amino acid residues, which according to our model are suitably located for forming hydrogen bonds with the bases, are potential H-bond acceptors or donors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The crystal structure of elongation factor EF-Tu from Thermus aquaticus in the GTP conformation.

BACKGROUND: Elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) is a GTP-binding protein that is crucial for protein biosynthesis. In the GTP form of the molecule, EF-Tu binds tightly to aminoacyl-tRNA, forming a ternary complex that interacts with the ribosomal acceptor site. During this interaction, GTP is hydrolyzed, and EF-Tu.GDP is ejected. RESULTS: The crystal structure of EF-Tu from Thermus aquaticus, complexed to the GTP analogue GDPNP, has been determined at 2.5 A resolution and compared to the structure of Escherichia coli EF-Tu.GDP. During the transition from the GDP (inactive) to the GTP (active) form, domain 1, containing the GTP-binding site, undergoes internal conformational changes similar to those observed in ras-p21. In addition, a dramatic rearrangement of domains is observed, corresponding to a rotation of 90.8 degrees of domain 1 relative to domains 2 and 3. Residues that are affected in the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA are found in or near the cleft formed by the domain interface. CONCLUSION: GTP binding by EF-Tu leads to dramatic conformational changes which expose the tRNA binding site. It appears that tRNA binding to EF-Tu induces a further conformational change, which may affect the GTPase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Refined structure of elongation factor EF-Tu from Escherichia coli.

The crystal structure of trypsin-modified elongation factor Tu from Escherichia coli, in complex with the cofactor guanosine diphosphate has been refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 19.3%, at 2.6 A resolution. In the model described, the root-mean-square deviation from ideality is 0.019 A for bond distances and 3.9 degrees for angles. The protein consists of three domains: an alpha/beta domain (residues 1 to 200), containing the binding site of the GDP cofactor, and consisting of a six-stranded beta-pleated sheet, six alpha-helices, and two all-beta domains (residues 209 to 299 and 300 to 393), belonging to the tertiary structural class of antiparallel beta-barrels. The GDP-binding domain has a folding that is found in other GDP-binding proteins. Elongation factor Tu interacts with proteins, nucleic acids and nucleotides, making this molecule well suited as a model system for the study of these interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of methylamine-treated alpha 2-macroglobulin and 3 alpha 2-macroglobulin-proteinase complexes.

Crystals of methylamine-treated alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M-MA), alpha 2-macroglobulin in complex with two molecules of trypsin, alpha 2M-T2, one molecule of plasmin, alpha 2M-PL, and one molecule of plasmin followed by methylamine-treatment, alpha 2M-PL(MA), have reproducibly been obtained using ammonium sulfate or magnesium sulfate as precipitants. The crystals are fragile tetragonal bipyramids of up to 1.5 mm in length. Crystals of alpha 2M-MA diffracted to at least 9 A resolution, crystals of alpha 2M-T2 diffracted to 10 A resolution and crystals of alpha 2M-PL and alpha 2M-PL(MA) diffracted to 11 A resolution. For alpha 2M-MA the cell parameters were determined as: a=b=257 A, c=555 A; and for alpha 2M-T2 as: a=b=247 A, c=559 A. For both preparations the space group was I4(1)22. As estimated from density measurements, the crystals of alpha 2M-MA and alpha 2M-T2 contain one 360 kDa alpha 2M dimer per asymmetric unit. The volume of the asymmetric unit/molecular weight, Vm, was estimated at 5.6 A3/Da. The crystal parameters of alpha 2M-PL and alpha 2M-PL(MA) were not determined.

Crystallization↗

Structural determination of the functional sites of E. coli elongation factor Tu.

Recently, we have made significant progress in solving the structure of a nicked form of elongation factor (EF)-Tu complexed with GDP. The structure has been refined to an R factor of 19.2% at 2.6 A resolution, so that most of the structure is clearly visible in the electron density map. Here we describe what is known about functional sites of EF-Tu in terms of the structure, which still lacks amino acids 40-60.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

A model for the tertiary structure of p21, the product of the ras oncogene.

A model was developed for the structure of p21, the protein with a molecular weight of 21,000 that is produced by the ras genes. This model predicts that p21 consists of a central core of beta-sheet structure, connected by loops and alpha helices. Four of these loops comprise the guanine nucleotide binding site. The phosphoryl binding region is made up of amino acid sequences from 10 to 16 and from 57 to 63 of p21. The latter sequence may contain a site for magnesium binding. Amino acids defining guanine specificity are Asn-116 and Asp-119, and sequences around amino acid 145 may contribute to guanine binding. The model makes it possible to visualize how oncogenic mutations of p21 affect interaction with guanine nucleotides.

Amino Acids↗

Structural details of the binding of guanosine diphosphate to elongation factor Tu from E. coli as studied by X-ray crystallography.

Structural details of the guanosine diphosphate binding to a modified form of elongation factor Tu from Escherichia coli, resulting from X-ray crystallographic studies, are reported. The protein elements that take part in the nucleotide binding are located in four loops connecting beta-strands with alpha-helices. These loops correspond to regions in primary sequences which show a high degree of homology when compared with other prokaryotic and eukaryotic elongation factors and initiation factor 2.

Escherichia coli↗

Specific alterations of the EF-Tu polypeptide chain considered in the light of its three-dimensional structure.

Specific alterations of the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) polypeptide chain have been identified in a number of mutant species of this elongation factor. In two species, Ala-375, located on domain II, was found by amino acid analysis to be replaced by Thr and Val, respectively. These replacements substantially lower the affinity of EF-Tu.GDP for the antibiotic kirromycin. Since kirromycin can be cross-linked to Lys-357, also located on domain II but structurally very far from Ala-375, these data suggest that the replacements alter the relative position of domains I and II. The Ala-375 replacements also lower the dissociation rates of the binary complexes EF-Tu.GTP and the binding constants for EF-Tu.GTP and Phe-tRNA. It is conceivable that these effects are also mediated by movements of domains I and II relative to each other. Replacement of Gly-222 by Asp has been found in another mutant by DNA sequence analysis of the cloned tufB gene, coding for this mutant EF-Tu. Gly-222 is part of a structural domain, characteristic for a variety of nucleotide binding enzymes. Its replacement by Asp does not abolish the ability of EF-Tu to sustain protein synthesis. It increases the dissociation rate of EF-Tu.GTP by approximately 30%. In the presence of kirromycin this mutant species of EF-Tu.GDP does not bind to the ribosome, in contrast to its wild-type counterpart. A possible explanation is now open for experimental verification.

Amino Acids↗

Cross-linking of tRNA at two different sites of the elongation factor Tu.

Recently, we reported on the induction by kirromycin of two tRNA binding sites on elongation factor Tu. To obtain independent information on the existence of these two sites and to characterize them further, 3' oxidized tRNA was cross-linked to elongation factor Tu by [3H]borohydride reduction. Specific cross-linking occurred exclusively in the presence of kirromycin. In the case of elongation factor Tu X GDP X kirromycin, cross-linking was found at lysine-208; in elongation factor Tu X GTP X kirromycin, cross-linking was at lysine-208 and lysine-237. In both elongation factor Tu complexes, kirromycin itself was found cross-linked to lysine-357. The tRNA cross-linking sites are in agreement with the idea of two different binding sites of tRNA on elongation factor Tu.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗