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Biomedical subjects

M Kokkinidis

Publications and source records attributed to M Kokkinidis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Structural studies of the Hrp secretion system: expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the C-terminal domain of the HrcQB protein from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola.

The C-terminal domain of the HrcQ(B) protein from the Hrp secretion system of the plant pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola has been crystallized from MPD using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 51.6, b = 27.3, c = 97.2 A and beta = 99.8 degrees. A complete native data set extending to 3.0 A resolution was collected from a single cryoprotected crystal. The crystal solvent content and calculation of self-rotation functions showing non-crystallographic twofold symmetry axes are consistent with the presence of an oligomeric assembly in the asymmetric unit.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Multidimensional molecular replacement.

A method is described which attempts to simultaneously and independently determine the positional and orientational parameters of all molecules present in the asymmetric unit of a target crystal structure. This is achieved through a reverse Monte Carlo optimization of a suitable statistic (such as the R factor or the linear correlation coefficient between the observed and calculated amplitudes of the structure factors) in the 6n-dimensional space defined by the rotational and translational parameters of the n search models. Results from the application of this stochastic method - obtained with a space-group-general computer program which has been developed for this purpose - indicate that with present-day computing capabilities the method may be applied successfully to molecular-replacement problems for which the target crystal structure contains up to three molecules per asymmetric unit. It is also shown that the method may be useful in cases where the assumption of topological segregation of the self- and cross-vectors in the Patterson function is violated (as may happen, for example, in closely packed crystal structures).

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

Engineering the properties of a cold active enzyme through rational redesign of the active site.

In an effort to explore the effects of local flexibility on the cold adaptation of enzymes, we designed point mutations aiming to modify side-chain flexibility at the active site of the psychrophilic alkaline phosphatase from the Antarctic strain TAB5. The mutagenesis targets were residues Trp260 and Ala219 of the catalytic site and His135 of the Mg2+ binding site. The replacement of Trp260 by Lys in mutant W260K, resulted in an enzyme less active than the wild-type in the temperature range 5-25 degrees C. The additional replacement of Ala219 by Asn in the double mutant W260K/A219N, resulted in a drastic increase in the energy of activation, which was reflected in a considerably decreased activity at temperatures of 5-15 degrees C and a significantly increased activity at 20-25 degrees C. Further substitution of His135 by Asp in the triple mutant W260K/A219N/H135D restored a low energy of activation. In addition, the His135-->Asp replacement in mutants H135D and W260K/A219N/H135D resulted in considerable stabilization. These results suggest that the psychrophilic character of mutants can be established or masked by very slight variations of the wild-type sequence, which may affect active site flexibility through changes in various conformational constraints.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2001

Side-chain conformations in 4-alpha-helical bundles.

The distribution of the chi(1), chi(2) dihedral angles in a dataset consisting of 12 unrelated 4-alpha-helical bundle proteins was determined and qualitatively compared with that observed in globular proteins. The analysis suggests that the 4-alpha-helical bundle motif could occasionally impose steric constraints on side chains: (i) the side-chain conformations are limited to only a subset of the conformations observed in globular proteins and for some amino acids they are sterically more constrained than those in helical regions of globular proteins; (ii) aspartic acid and asparagine occasionally adopt rotamers that have not been previously reported for globular or helical proteins; (iii) some rotamers of tyrosine and isoleucine are predominantly or exclusively associated with hydrophobic core positions (a, d); (iv) mutations in the hydrophobic core occur preferentially between residue types which among other physicochemical properties also share a predominant rotamer.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2000

Alkaline phosphatase from the Antarctic strain TAB5. Properties and psychrophilic adaptations.

The gene encoding alkaline phosphatase (AP) from the psychrophilic strain TAB5 was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. A single open reading frame consisting of 1125 base pairs which encodes a polypeptide consisting of signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a mature protein of 353 amino acids was identified. The deduced protein sequence of AP exhibits a 38% identity to the AP III and AP IV sequences of Bacillus subtilis and conserves the typical sequence motifs of the core structure and active sites of APs from various sources. Based on the crystal structure of the mutated Escerichia coli AP D153H, a homology-based 3D model of the TAB5 AP was constructed on the basis of which various features of the enzyme amino-acid sequence can be interpreted in terms of potential psychrophilic adaptations. The AP gene was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells, the recombinant protein was isolated to homogeneity from the membrane fraction of the cells and its properties were examined. The purified TAB5 AP shows typical features of a cold enzyme: high catalytic activity at low temperature and a remarkable thermosensitivity. The use of this heat-labile enzyme, for dephosphorylation of nucleic acids, simplifies dephosphorylation protocols.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

Crystallization and diffraction to ultrahigh resolution (0.8 A) of a designed variant of the Rop protein.

The Rop protein is the paradigm of a highly regular four-alpha-helix bundle and as such has been subject to numerous structural and mutagenesis studies. Crystals of a designed Rop variant which establishes a continuous heptad pattern through the bend region have been obtained by a combination of vapour-diffusion and seeding techniques. The crystals diffract to ultrahigh (0.8 A) resolution using synchrotron radiation and cryogenic conditions.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2000

On the distribution of the bulk-solvent correction parameters.

The distribution of the bulk-solvent correction parameters (B(sol), k(sol)) (as determined with an exponential scaling algorithm based on Babinet's principle) for 219 crystal structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank is presented. The distribution shows that (i) the range of values observed is far wider than the usually cited parameter range, (ii) the observed k(sol) values do not correlate with their assumed physical meaning and (iii) the two parameters are not independent and a reasonable agreement with the experimental data can be obtained through the application of a simple exponential function. These findings are interpreted in terms of the inability of the currently used algorithms to uncouple the values of the two parameters during macromolecular refinement.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2000

Crystallization of type I chloramphenicol acetyltransferase: an approach based on the concept of ionic strength reducers.

Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) is responsible for bacterial resistance to chloramphenicol. It catalyzes inactivation of the antibiotic by acetyl-group transfer from acetyl CoA to one or both hydroxyl groups of chloramphenicol. Type I CAT possesses some unique properties which are not observed in other CAT variants. Type I CAT overexpressed in Escherichia coli was purified and crystals with a resolution limit of 2.22 A have been obtained using a novel procedure which is based on the concept of 'ionic strength reducers'. The crystals have the symmetry of space group P1 and unit-cell parameters a = 96.46, b = 113.86, c = 114.21 A, alpha = 119.9, beta = 94.1, gamma = 98.6 degrees. These dimensions are consistent with four to six trimers per unit cell, corresponding to a solvent fraction ranging from 65 to 47%.

Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase↗
PubMed2000

A stochastic approach to molecular replacement.

The classical approach to the problem of placing n copies of a search model in the asymmetric unit of a target crystal structure is to divide this 6n-dimensional optimization problem into a succession of three-dimensional searches (rotation-function followed by translation-function searches for each of the models). Here, it is shown that a structure-determination method based on a reverse Monte Carlo minimization of a suitably chosen statistic in the 6n-dimensional space defined by the rotational and translational parameters of the n molecules is both feasible and practical, at least for small n. Because all parameters of all molecules are determined simultaneously, this algorithm is expected to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in difficult cases involving high crystallographic/non-crystallographic symmetry in tightly packed crystal forms. Preliminary results from the application of this method (obtained with a space-group general computer program which has been developed for this purpose) are presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Protein plasticity to the extreme: changing the topology of a 4-alpha-helical bundle with a single amino acid substitution.

BACKGROUND: Conventional wisdom has it that two proteins sharing 98.4% sequence identity have nearly identical three-dimensional structures. Here we provide a counter-example to this statement by showing that a single amino acid substitution can change the topology of a homodimeric 4-alpha-helical bundle protein. RESULTS: We have determined the high-resolution crystal structure of a 4-alpha-helical protein with a single alanine to proline mutation in the turn region, and show that this single amino acid substitution leads to a complete reorganisation of the whole molecule. The protein is converted from the canonical left-handed all-antiparallel form, to a right-handed mixed parallel and antiparallel bundle, which to the best of our knowledge and belief represents a novel topological motif for this class of proteins. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a possible new mechanism for the creation and evolution of topological motifs, show the importance of loop regions in determining the allowable folding pathways, and illustrate the malleability of protein structures.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1999

A correlation between the loss of hydrophobic core packing interactions and protein stability.

The hydrophobic core packing in four-alpha-helical bundles appears to be crucial for stabilizing the protein structure. To examine the structural basis of hydrophobic stabilization, the crystal structures of the Leu-->Val (L41V) and Leu-->Ala (L41A) substitutions of the core residue Leu41 of the ROP protein have been determined. Both substitutions are destabilizing and lead to formation of cavities. The main responses to mutations are the collapse of the central part of the alpha-helix containing the site of mutation, shifts of internal water molecules, and in L41A, the trapping of a water molecule in a cavity engineered by the mutation. For both mutants, these effects limit the increase in cavity size to less than 10 A3, while an increase of 37 A3 and 100 A3 is expected for L41V and L41A, respectively, in the absence of any cavity size reducing effects. The mobility of internal side-chains is increased and in L41A, it reaches values typical for exposed residues. A parameter (Deltanh) is introduced as a measure of the number of van der Waals contacts lost. For ROP, barnase and T4 lysozyme mutants, there is a good correlation between Deltanh and the free energy of unfolding DeltaDeltaG relative to wild-type protein. The Deltanh value turns out to be more suitable for analysing structural and energetic responses to mutation than other parameter, such as cavity volumes and packing densities. Possible evolutionary implications of the DeltaDeltaG versus Deltanh relationship are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1999

The crystal structures of the synthetic C-terminal octa- and dodecapeptides of trichovirin.

The structures of two synthetic peptides with sequences corresponding to the C-terminal region of the naturally occurring 14-residue peptaibol trichovirin have been determined. The crystal structures of 8- and 12-residue segments are presented and are compared with the structures of the tetrapeptide and of the 9-residue segment, which have been reported earlier. A comparison between these segments leads to the hypothesis that the three-dimensional structure of trichovirin is to a large extent determined by the properties of a periodically repeating -Aib-Pro- pattern in the sequence of the peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Meaningful refinement of polyalanine models using rigid-body simulated annealing: application to the structure determination of the A31P Rop mutant.

Conventional refinement methods, when applied to even correctly positioned polyalanine models of a target structure, result in a systematic distortion of the molecular geometry and to a concomitant increase in the mean phase difference from the correct phase set. Here, it is shown that iterative rigid-body simulated-annealing refinement of polyalanine models employing successively fewer residues per rigid body (down to one alanine residue per body) at a very high initial temperature (of the order of T0 = 10000 K) and with the geometric energy terms switched on, not only preserves the geometry of the model but can also converge to an essentially correct polyalanine trace of the target structure, even when the starting model deviates systematically and significantly from the sought structure. As an example of the application of the method, details are presented of the structure determination of the Ala31Pro mutant of the Rop protein, where an initial roughly positioned polyalanine model (giving an average phase difference of 78.2 degrees from the final phase set) was successfully refined against a 1.8 A resolution native data set, leading to an essentially correct model of the main chain with an average displacement of its atomic positions from the final model of 0.275 A. The phases calculated from this refined polyalanine model had an average difference of 43.8 degrees from the final phase set (corresponding to a mean figure of merit of 0.72) and gave a readily interpretable electron-density map.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Structural parameters for proteins derived from the atomic resolution (1.09 A) structure of a designed variant of the ColE1 ROP protein.

The crystal structure of a designed variant of the ColE1 repressor of primer (ROP) protein has been refined with SHELXL93 to a resolution of 1.09 A. The final model with 510 non-H protein atoms, 576 H atoms in calculated positions and 114 water molecules converged to a standard R factor of 10% using unrestrained blocked full-matrix refinement. For all non-H atoms six-parameter anisotropic thermal parameters have been refined. The majority of atomic vibrations have a preferred orientation which is approximately perpendicular to the bundle axis; analysis with the TLS method [Schomaker & Trueblood (1968). Acta Cryst. B24, 63-77] showed a relatively good agreement between the individual atomic displacements and a rigid-body motion of the protein. Disordered residues with multiple conformations form clusters on the surface of the protein; six C-terminal residues have been omitted from the refined model due to disorder. Part of the solvent structure forms pentagonal or hexagonal clusters which bridge neighbouring protein molecules. Some water molecules are also conserved in wild-type ROP. The unrestrained blocked full-matrix least-squares refinement yielded reliable estimates of the standard deviations of the refined parameters. Comparison of these parameters with the stereochemical restraints used in various protein refinement programs showed statistically significant differences. These restraints should be adapted to the refinement of macromolecules by taking into account parameters determined from atomic resolution protein structures.

Anisotropy↗
PubMed1998

Dimer-to-tetramer transformation: loop excision dramatically alters structure and stability of the ROP four alpha-helix bundle protein.

The ROP loop excision mutant RM6 shows dramatic changes in structure and stability in comparison to the wild-type protein. Removal of the five amino acids (Asp30, Ala31, Asp32, Glu33, Gln34) from the loop results in a complete reorganization of the protein as evidenced by single crystal X-ray analysis and thermodynamic unfolding studies. The homodimeric four-alpha-helix motif of the wild-type structure is given up. Instead a homotetrameric four-alpha-helix structure with extended, loop-free helical monomers is formed. This intriguing structural change is associated with the acquisition of hyperthermophilic stability. This is evident in the shift in transition temperature from 71 degreesC characteristic of the wild-type protein to 101 degreesC for RM6. Accordingly the Gibbs energy of unfolding is increased from 71.7 kJ (mol of dimer)-1 to 195.1 kJ (mol of tetramer)-1. The tetramer-to-monomer transition proceeds highly cooperatively involving an enthalpy change of DeltaH=1073+/-30 kJ (mol of tetramer)-1 and a heat capacity change at the transition temperature of DeltaDNCp=14.9(+/-)3% kJ (mol of tetramerxK)-1. The two-state nature of the unfolding reaction is reflected in coinciding calorimetric and van't Hoff enthalpy values.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding PspPI methyltransferase from the Antarctic psychrotroph Psychrobacter sp. strain TA137. Predicted interactions with DNA and organization of the variable region.

The gene (pspPIM) encoding the PspPI DNA methyltransferase (MTase) associated with the PspPI restriction-modification (R-M) system (5'-GGNCC-3') of Psychrobacter species TA137 has been cloned and expressed in E. coli, and its nucleotide (nt) sequence has been determined. The coding region was 1248 nt in length and capable of specifying a 46826-Da protein of 416 amino acids (aa). The predicted sequence of the MTase protein displays ten sequence motifs characteristic of all prokaryotic m5C-MTases and shows the highest similarity to other MTases that methylate the GGNCC sequence, namely M . Eco47II and M . Sau96I. All three MTases methylate the internal cytosine within their recognition sequence. Sequence similarities between M . PspPI and its isospecific M . Eco47II and M . Sau96I as well as with four other m5C-MTases that methylate the related GGWCC sequence, namely M . SinI, M . HgiCII, M . HgiBI, M . HgiEI have been also found within the variable region of these proteins. On the basis of structural information from M . HhaI and M . HaeIII, several M . PspPI residues that are expected to interact with DNA can be predicted. Furthermore, an organization of the variable region of m5C-MTases into two segments exhibiting a pattern of conserved residues and a considerable degree of structural homologies is described.

Amino Acid Sequence↗