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Expression of alpha-hemoglobin stabilizing protein gene during human erythropoiesis.

alpha-Hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) is an abundant, erythroid-specific protein that forms a stable complex with free alpha-hemoglobin but not with beta-hemoglobin or hemoglobin A. As such, AHSP is required for normal erythropoiesis, probably acting by blocking the deleterious effects of free alpha-hemoglobin precipitation. In order to study the levels of expression of the AHSP gene during the different phases of erythropoiesis, we carried out a two-phase liquid culture of erythroid cells and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Blood from control volunteers was cultured with erythropoietin to stimulate differentiation. The different stages of erythropoiesis were confirmed by morphologic and flow cytometric analysis. The results showed a progressive increase in AHSP gene expression following the expression of alpha-globin gene, during maturation of the red blood cell precursors, confirming the probable important function of this protein during normal erythropoiesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Protein stability to the effect of denaturing agents and elevated temperature is directly proportional to the fraction of hydrophobic residues in its molecule].

The dependence of protein stability against the action of urea, guanidine hydrochloride and elevated temperature on the fraction of hydrophobic residues in their molecules was studied. It was shown that proteins can be divided into several stability classes. The stability of proteins within each class is directly proportional to the fraction of hydrophobic residues in their molecules and this dependence is a linear one. As shown on several examples proteins can pass from one class to another and such discrete transitions are determined by the formation or disruption of bonds with cofactors. The effect of point mutations on the stability of proteins is discussed from the viewpoint of polar group dehydration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The thermodynamic analysis of protein stabilization by sucrose and glycerol against pressure-induced unfolding.

We have studied the reaction native left arrow over right arrow denatured for the 33-kDa protein isolated from photosystem II. Sucrose and glycerol have profound effects on pressure-induced unfolding. The additives shift the equilibrium to the left; they also cause a significant decrease in the standard volume change (DeltaV). The change in DeltaV was related to the sucrose and glycerol concentrations. The decrease in DeltaV varied with the additive: sucrose caused the largest effect, glycerol the smallest. The theoretical shift of the half-unfolding pressure (P1/2) calculated from the net increase in free energy by addition of sucrose and glycerol was lower than that obtained from experimental mea- surements. This indicates that the free energy change caused by preferential hydration of the protein is not the unique factor involved in the protein stabilization. The reduction in DeltaV showed a large contribution to the theoretical P1/2 shift, suggesting that the DeltaV change, caused by the sucrose or glycerol was associated with the protein stabilization. The origin of the DeltaV change is discussed. The rate of pressure-induced unfolding in the presence of sucrose or glycerol was slower than the refolding rate although both were significantly slower than that observed without any stabilizers.

Glycerol↗

Molecular confinement influences protein structure and enhances thermal protein stability.

The sol-gel method of encapsulating proteins in a silica matrix was investigated as a potential experimental system for testing the effects of molecular confinement on the structure and stability of proteins. We demonstrate that silica entrapment (1) is fully compatible with structure analysis by circular dichroism, (2) allows conformational studies in contact with solvents that would otherwise promote aggregation in solution, and (3) generally enhances thermal protein stability. Lysozyme, alpha-lactalbumin, and metmyoglobin retained native-like solution structures following sol-gel encapsulation, but apomyoglobin was found to be largely unfolded within the silica matrix under control buffer conditions. The secondary structure of encapsulated apomyoglobin was unaltered by changes in pH and ionic strength of KCl. Intriguingly, the addition of other neutral salts resulted in an increase in the alpha-helical content of encapsulated apomyoglobin in accordance with the Hofmeister ion series. We hypothesize that protein conformation is influenced directly by the properties of confined water in the pores of the silica. Further work is needed to differentiate the steric effects of the silica matrix from the solvent effects of confined water on protein structure and to determine the extent to which this experimental system mimics the effects of crowding and confinement on the function of macromolecules in vivo.

Animals↗

Coupling between trans/cis proline isomerization and protein stability in staphylococcal nuclease.

The nucleases A produced by two strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which have different stabilities, differ only in the identity of the single amino acid at residue 124. The nuclease from the Foggi strain of S. aureus (by convention nuclease WT), which contains His124, is 1.9 kcal.mol-1 less stable (at pH 5.5 and 20 degrees C) than the nuclease from the V8 strain (by convention nuclease H124L), which contains Leu124. In addition, the population of the trans conformer at the Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond, as observed by NMR spectroscopy, is different for the two variants: about 15% for nuclease WT and 9% for nuclease H124L. In order to improve our understanding of the origin of these differences, we compared the properties of WT and H124L with those of the H124A and H124I variants. We discovered a correlation between effects of different residues at this position on protein stability and on stabilization of the cis configuration of the Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond. In terms of free energy, approximately 17% of the increase in protein stability manifests itself as stabilization of the cis configuration at Lys116-Pro117. This result implies that the differences in stability arise mainly from structural differences between the cis configurational isomers at Pro117 of the different variants at residue 124. We solved the X-ray structure of the cis form of the most stable variant, H124L, and compared it with the published high-resolution X-ray structure of the cis form of the most stable variant, WT (Hynes TR, Fox RO, 1991, Proteins Struct Funct Genet 10:92-105). The two structures are identical within experimental error, except for the side chain at residue 124, which is exposed in the models of both variants. Thus, the increased stability and changes in the trans/cis equilibrium of the Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond observed in H124L relative to WT are due to subtle structural changes that are not observed by current structure determination technique. Residue 124 is located in a helix. However, the stability changes are too large and follow the wrong order of stability to be explained simply by differences in helical propensity. A second site of conformational heterogeneity in native nuclease is found at the His46-Pro47 peptide bond, which is approximately 80% trans in both WT and H124L. Because proline to glycine substitutions at either residue 47 or 117 remove the structural heterogeneity at that position and increase protein stability, we determined the X-ray structures of H124L + P117G and H124L + P47G + P117G and the kinetic parameters of H124L, H124L + P47G, H124L + P117G, and H124L + P47G + P117G. The individual P117G and P47G mutations cause decreases in nuclease activity, with kcat affected more than Km, and their effects are additive. The P117G mutation in nuclease H124L leads to the same local conformational rearrangement described for the P117G mutant of WT (Hynes TR, Hodel A, Fox RO, 1994, Biochemistry 33:5021-5030). In both P117G mutants, the loop formed by residues 112-117 is located closer to the adjacent loop formed by residues 77-85, and residues 115-118 adopt a type I' beta-turn conformation with the Lys116-Gly117 peptide bond in the trans configuration, as compared with the parent protein in which these residues have a typeVIa beta-turn conformation with the Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond in the cis configuration. Addition of the P47G mutation appears not to cause any additional structural changes. However, the electron density for part of the loop containing this peptide bond was not strong enough to be interpreted.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Regulatory domain of protein stability of human P51/TAP63, a P53 homologue.

The amino terminal of human P51/TAp63, a P53 homologue, possesses a transactivation domain involved in the activation of its target genes by binding to DNA elements responsive to the p53 protein family. Using a series of amino terminal deletions, the transactivation domain was mapped between amino acid residues 50 to 69. This domain also regulates protein stability in a proteasome-dependent manner, and Ser51 and Ser68 were found to be essential for this stability. Our results suggest that P51 activity is greatly affected by protein stability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of the p53 gene, its expression and protein stabilization in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

We have investigated the p53 gene, expression of its mRNA, and stabilization of its protein in a series of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining of the p53 protein in node biopsies from 6/36 NHL patients, all of whom had high-grade disease. The remaining NHL samples, together with 3 reactive nodes, showed either negative staining or the staining of only occasional cells. In one case that exhibited intense nuclear staining in 90% of the cells, a mutation in the p53 gene was also observed. There was no evidence of rearrangements of the p53 gene in any of the NHL samples. Although p53 mRNA could not be detected in nonmalignant tissue, it was apparently overexpressed in 16/38 NHL, but this did not correlate with positive staining of the p53 protein. These data suggest that p53 dysfunction might play an important role in the evolution of some cases of NHL, and that mechanisms other than mutation of the p53 gene may be involved in stabilizing the p53 protein in these neoplasms.

Gene Expression↗

Polar group burial contributes more to protein stability than nonpolar group burial.

On the basis of studies of Asn to Ala mutants, the gain in stability from burying amide groups that are hydrogen bonded to peptide groups is 80 cal/(mol A(3)). On the basis of similar studies of Leu to Ala and Ile to Val mutants, the gain in stability from burying -CH(2)- groups is 50 cal/(mol A(3)). Thus, the burial of an amide group contributes more to protein stability than the burial of an equivalent volume of -CH(2)- groups. Applying these results to folded proteins leads to the surprising conclusion that peptide group burial makes a larger contribution to protein stability than nonpolar side chain burial. Several studies have shown that the desolvation penalty for burying peptide groups is considerably smaller than generally thought. This suggests that the hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions of peptide groups in the tightly packed interior of folded protein are more favorable than similar interactions with water in the unfolded protein.

Amides↗

Glycosylation of CD45: carbohydrate processing through Golgi apparatus is required for cell surface expression and protein stability.

The importance of glycosylation on cell surface expression, protein stability and function of the CD45 phosphotyrosine phosphatase leukocyte common antigen, has been studied in the K562 erythroleukemic cell line. Cell treatment with the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin generated unglycosylated CD45 polypeptides of 130 and 140 kDa. Immunofluorescence flow cytometry and Scatchard techniques revealed that CD45 cell surface expression was decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner upon tunicamycin incubation. Moreover, a remarkable decrease in CD45 phosphatase activity was detected in tunicamycin-treated cells, which correlated with the diminished CD45 cell surface expression. Pulse-chase biosynthetic assays demonstrated that the fate of the unglycosylated CD45 proteins underwent a late non-lysosomal degradation, since it was not prevented either by monensin, an inhibitor of Golgi transport, or by the lysosomal function inhibitor chloroquine. These results demonstrate that intact glycosylation of CD45 molecules through Golgi compartment is required for stability and proper transport towards the plasma membrane of these phosphotyrosine phosphatase proteins.

Antigens, CD↗

Dual degradation signals control Gli protein stability and tumor formation.

Regulated protein destruction controls many key cellular processes with aberrant regulation increasingly found during carcinogenesis. Gli proteins mediate the transcriptional effects of the Sonic hedgehog pathway, which is implicated in up to 25% of human tumors. Here we show that Gli is rapidly destroyed by the proteasome and that mouse basal cell carcinoma induction correlates with Gli protein accumulation. We identify two independent destruction signals in Gli1, D(N) and D(C), and show that removal of these signals stabilizes Gli1 protein and rapidly accelerates tumor formation in transgenic animals. These data argue that control of Gli protein accumulation underlies tumorigenesis and suggest a new avenue for antitumor therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modeling Gibbs energies of solution for a non-polar solute in aqueous solutions of the protein stabilizers glycerol and ethylene glycol.

The Hydration Shell Chemical Equilibrium Model (HSCE) has been applied to Gibbs energies of solution data for toluene in aqueous solutions of the protein stabilizers glycerol and ethylene glycol. The HSCE model fits the experimental data to nearly experimental uncertainty. This satisfactory rendering of the data provides certainty on the physical significance of the model parameters and allows a description, from the molecular point of view, of the behaviour of a non-polar solute in aqueous solutions of protein stabilizers. The toluene-stabilizer interchange energy is positive indicating a dislike between toluene and the stabilizer molecules. This dislike is, however, much less pronounced than that between the solute and water, i.e. the non-polar solute prefers to be in contact with the stabilizer rather than with water. The cohesion between water molecules is much larger than that between stabilizer molecules and it remains to be the dominant cause of the hydrophobic behaviour of the non-polar solute. Since the solute-stabilizer interactions are energetically favoured over the solute-water ones, in the vicinity of the solute the stabilizer molecules are preferred over water ones. However, there is no specific interaction leading to a distinct chemical entity (a solute-stabilizer complex). Thus, the non-polar solute-stabilizer interaction is better described by the term 'preferential solvation of the solute by the stabilizer'.

Cryoprotective Agents↗

[Characteristics of p53 protein stabilization in cells of patients with ataxia-telangiectasia after gamma-irradiation].

Stabilization of P53 protein in cells isolated from patients with a grave hereditary disease ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), characterized by strongly enhanced sensitivity to ionizing radiation and impairment of cell cycle control after DNA damage, was studied. The level of expression of these reactions by patients may vary, and it tends to be linked with the severity of the disease. In all AT strains studied, both acquired by the authors and obtained from foreign colleagues, we observed the alteration of timing and character of stabilization of P53 protein, after the action of ionizing radiation in sublethal dosage, as compared to that in cells from healthy donor.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗

Protein stabilization by blocking the native unfolding nucleus.

Studies on the thermal inactivation of immobilized enzymes result in a novel conception of protein stabilization. The native protein molecule is suggested to be characterized by a specific structural region where the unfolding process starts. Accordingly, enzyme stabilization by immobilization is the result of blocking this unfolding nucleus.

Amylases↗

Interactions of phospholipase D and cytochrome P450 protein stability.

Previous studies have suggested a relationship between cytochrome P450 (P450) 3A (CYP3A) conformation and the phospholipid composition of the associated membrane. In this study, we utilized a novel microsomal incubation system that mimics many of the characteristics of CYP3A degradation pathway that have been observed in vivo and in cultured cells to study the effects of phospholipid composition on protein stability. We found that addition of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase D (PLD) stabilized CYP3A in this system, but that phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) was without effect. Addition of phosphatidic acid also stabilized CYP3A protein in the microsomes. The use of 1,10-phenanthroline (phenanthroline), an inhibitor of PLD activity, decreased CYP3A stability in incubated microsomes. Similarly, 6-h treatment of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes with phenanthroline resulted in nearly complete loss of CYP3A protein. Treatment of rats with nicardipine or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), which have been shown to affect CYP3A stability, altered the phospholipid composition of hepatic microsomes. It did not appear, though, that the changes in phospholipid composition that resulted from these in vivo treatments accounted for the change in CYP3A stability observed in hepatic microsomes from these animals.

Analysis of Variance↗

Protein stability at high temperatures.

The enzymology of hyperthermophilic micro-organisms is a growing field. As increasing numbers of novel high-temperature organisms are isolated and made available through culture collections, and, as biomass becomes more readily available, more laboratories will undoubtedly expand their research interests into this area. The prospect of totally novel enzyme systems and of new approaches to the investigation of fundamental molecular properties will continue to stimulate interest in this field. Studies of thermostable enzymes have already provided valuable data on the relationships between protein stability and activity. The subtle molecular mechanisms which have evolved to stabilize these proteins provide the clues needed for the intelligent design of stabilized mesophilic enzymes, an important target where a combination of high activity at 'low' temperatures and resistance to denaturation is required. The current role of hyperthermophilic enzymes in biotechnology is relatively minor, despite these enzymes having a high 'profile'. While early over-enthusiastic predictions that these enzymes would revolutionize biotechnology should be disregarded, it can reasonably be assumed that, where functional and economic criteria are suitable, thermophilic enzymes will be readily incorporated into current and future biotechnology.

Bacteria↗

Studies on protein stability with T4 lysozyme.

A series of mutants of phage T4 lysozyme have been constructed and have permitted a systematic analysis of different aspects of protein stability and folding. One striking result has been the ability of the protein to accommodate changes at many sites, yet still fold and retain activity. This shows that many amino acids in the sequence of the protein are nonessential for protein folding and stability. Such amino acids appear, predominantly, to be those that are mobile and/or largely exposed to solvent. Even though buried residues seem to be more important, it is still possible to change these as well. In some cases individual amino acids have been replaced. In other cases it has been found that a combination of substitutions permits repacking of the core. Such repacking is associated with adjustments of both the main chain and side chains. Only rarely do side chains rotate into radically new orientations. Taken together, substitutions of core residues confirm the overall importance of the hydrophobic effect as the dominant factor in stabilizing the folded structures of proteins. "Cavity-creating" substitutions of the form Leu-->Ala show, as expected, that the burial of the bulky leucine side chain within the core of the protein confers greater hydrophobic stabilization than is the case for the smaller alanine side chain. Leu-->Ala substitutions that create large cavities are especially destabilizing because they result in a loss of both hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions. In cases where the protein relaxes to reduce the size of the putative cavity, alternative van der Waals interactions are generated and the overall destabilization of the protein may be less severe than in cases where a large cavity is formed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Contribution of cation-pi interactions to protein stability.

Calculations predict that cation- interactions make an important contribution to protein stability. While there have been some attempts to experimentally measure strengths of cation-pi interactions using peptide model systems, much less experimental data are available for globular proteins. We have attempted to determine the magnitude of cation-pi interactions of Lys with aromatic amino acids in four different proteins (LIVBP, MBP, RBP, and Trx). In each case, Lys was replaced with Gln and Met. In a separate series of experiments, the aromatic amino acid in each cation-pi pair was replaced by Leu. Stabilities of wild-type (WT) and mutant proteins were characterized by both thermal and chemical denaturation. Gln and aromatic --> Leu mutants were consistently less stable than corresponding Met mutants, reflecting the nonisosteric nature of these substitutions. The strength of the cation-pi interaction was assessed by the value of the change in the free energy of unfolding [DeltaDeltaG(degrees) = DeltaG(degrees)(Met) - DeltaG(degrees)(WT)]. This ranged from +1.1 to -1.9 kcal/mol (average value -0.4 kcal/mol) at 298 K and +0.7 to -2.6 kcal/mol (average value -1.1 kcal/mol) at the Tm of each WT. It therefore appears that the strength of cation-pi interactions increases with temperature. In addition, the experimentally measured values are appreciably smaller in magnitude than calculated values with an average difference /DeltaG(degrees)expt - DeltaG(degrees)calc/av of 2.9 kcal/mol. At room temperature, the data indicate that cation-pi interactions are at best weakly stabilizing and in some cases are clearly destabilizing. However, at elevated temperatures, close to typical Tm's, cation-pi interactions are generally stabilizing.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Structure and activity of the photosystem II manganese-stabilizing protein: role of the conserved disulfide bond.

The 33-kDa manganese-stabilizing protein (MSP) of Photosystem II (PS II) maintains the functional stability of the Mn cluster in the enzyme's active site. This protein has been shown to possess characteristics similar to those of the intrinsically disordered, or natively unfolded proteins. Alternately it was proposed that MSP should be classified as a molten globule, based in part on the hypothesis that its lone disulfide bridge is necessary for structural stability and function in solution. A site-directed mutant MSP (C28A,C51A) that eliminates the disulfide bond reconstitutes O(2) evolution activity and binds to MSP-free PS II preparations at wild-type levels. This mutant was further characterized by incubation at 90 degrees C to determine the effect of loss of the disulfide bridge on MSP thermostability and solution structure. After heating at 90 degrees C for 20 min, C28A,C51A MSP was still able to bind to PS II preparations at molar stoichiometries similar to those of WT MSP and reconstitute O(2) evolution activity. A fraction of the protein aggregates upon heating, but after resolubilization, it regains the ability to bind to PS II and reconstitute O(2) evolution activity. Characterization of the solution structure of C28A,C51A MSP, using CD spectroscopy, UV absorption spectroscopy, and gel filtration chromatography, revealed that the mutant has a more disordered solution structure than WT MSP. The disulfide bond is therefore unnecessary for MSP function and the intrinsically disordered characteristics of MSP are not dependent on its presence. However, the disulfide bond does play a role in the solution structure of MSP in vivo, as evidenced by the lability of a C20S MSP mutation in Synechocystis 6803.

Amino Acid Substitution↗