Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Structure”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,063 records · Page 59Linked to original sources

NMR structural study of two-disulfide variant of hen lysozyme: 2SS[6-127, 30-115]--a disulfide intermediate with a partly unfolded structure.

The 15N-labeled recombinant hen lysozyme and two species of two-disulfide variants, denoted as 2SS[6-127, 30-115] and 2SS[64-80, 76-94], were studied by means of NMR spectroscopy. The former variant contains two disulfide bridges in the alpha-domain, while the latter has one disulfide bridge in the beta-domain and the other one at the interface between two domains. Resonance assignments were performed using 3D TOCSY-HSQC and NOESY-HSQC spectra. The 15N-1H-HSQC spectrum of 2SS[6-127, 30-115] was similar to that of recombinant lysozyme as a whole, although a number of cross-peaks disappeared. On the other hand, the HSQC spectrum of 2SS[64-80, 76-94] was characteristic of unfolded proteins. The structure of 2SS[6-127, 30-115] was thoroughly examined on the basis of NOE contacts determined by NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the alpha-domain was quite similar to that of authentic lysozyme, while the beta-domain was largely unstructured. However, NMR data clearly demonstrated that some residual structures exist in the beta-domain. The beta1 and beta2 strands were maintained stably as an antiparallel beta-sheet. In addition, the residues 55 and 56 were located in the vicinity of the end of the B-helix. Further, the C-helix was properly set with side-chains of I88, V92, K96, and V99 facing toward the hydrophobic core in the alpha-domain. These residual structures inherent in the amino acid sequence were evaluated concerning the folding process of lysozyme. Our experiments imply that the establishment of the backbone conformation ranging from residues 76-99 plays a key role in attaining the cooperativity between two domains required for the folding transition.

Alanine↗

The crystal structure of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 reveals novel features of the FGF family and offers a structural basis for its unusual receptor affinity.

The 22 members of the FGF family have been implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration. They are required for both development and maintenance of vertebrates, demonstrating an exquisite pattern of affinities for both protein and proteoglycan receptors. FGF19, one of the most divergent human FGFs, is unique in binding solely to one receptor, FGFR4. We have used molecular replacement to solve the crystal structure of FGF19 at 1.3 A resolution using five superimposed FGF structures as the search model. The structure shows that two novel disulfide bonds found in FGF19, one of which appears to be conserved among several of the other FGFs, stabilize extended loops. The key heparin-binding loops of FGF19 have radically different conformations and charge patterns, compared to other FGFs, correlating with the unusually low affinity of FGF19 for heparin. A model for the complex of FGF19 with FGFR4 demonstrates that unique sequences in both FGF19 and FGFR4 are key to the formation of the complex. The structure therefore offers a clear explanation for the unusual affinity of FGF19 for FGFR4 alone.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

X-ray crystal structures of Moorella thermoacetica FprA. Novel diiron site structure and mechanistic insights into a scavenging nitric oxide reductase.

Several members of a widespread class of bacterial and archaeal metalloflavoproteins, called FprA, likely function as scavenging nitric oxide reductases (S-NORs). However, the only published X-ray crystal structure of an FprA is for a protein characterized as a rubredoxin:dioxygen oxidoreductase (ROO) from Desulfovibrio gigas. Therefore, the crystal structure of Moorella thermoacetica FprA, which has been established to function as an S-NOR, was solved in three different states: as isolated, reduced, and reduced, NO-reacted. As is the case for D. gigas ROO, the M. thermoacetica FprA contains a solvent-bridged non-heme, non-sulfur diiron site with five-coordinate iron centers bridged by an aspartate, and terminal glutamate, aspartate, and histidine ligands. However, the M. thermoacetica FprA diiron site showed four His ligands, two to each iron, in all three states, whereas the D. gigas ROO diiron site was reported to contain only three His ligands, even though the fourth His residue is conserved. The Fe1-Fe2 distance within the diiron site of M. thermoacetica FprA remained at 3.2-3.4 A with little or no movement of the protein ligands in the three different states and with conservation of the two proximal open coordination sites. Molecular modeling indicated that each open coordination site can accommodate an end-on NO. This relatively rigid and symmetrical diiron site structure is consistent with formation of a diferrous dinitrosyl as the committed catalytic intermediate leading to formation of N(2)O. These results provide new insight into the structural features that fine-tune biological non-heme diiron sites for dioxygen activation vs nitric oxide reduction.

Binding Sites↗

Structural basis for herbicidal inhibitor selectivity revealed by comparison of crystal structures of plant and mammalian 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases.

A high degree of selectivity toward the target site of the pest organism is a desirable attribute for new safer agrochemicals. To assist in the design of novel herbicides, we determined the crystal structures of the herbicidal target enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD; EC 1.13.11.27) from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana with and without an herbicidal benzoylpyrazole inhibitor that potently inhibits both plant and mammalian HPPDs. We also determined the structure of a mammalian (rat) HPPD in complex with the same nonselective inhibitor. From a screening campaign of over 1000 HPPD inhibitors, six highly plant-selective inhibitors were found. One of these had remarkable (>1600-fold) selectivity toward the plant enzyme and was cocrystallized with Arabidopsis HPPD. Detailed comparisons of the plant and mammalian HPPD-ligand structures suggest a structural basis for the high degree of plant selectivity of certain HPPD inhibitors and point to design strategies to obtain potent and selective inhibitors of plant HPPD as agrochemical leads.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase↗

Determination of the structures of antiinflammatory copper(II) dimers of indomethacin by multiple-scattering analyses of X-ray absorption fine structure data.

Copper K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) measurements were recorded for the veterinary antiinflammatory Cu(II) complexes of indomethacin (1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole-3-acetic acid = IndoH), of the general formula [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)L(2)] (L = N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), and water), and [Cu(2)(OAc)(4)(OH(2))(2)] at room temperature and 10 K. The bond lengths and bridging O-C-O angles of the dimeric Cu(II) cage (Cu(2)O(10)C(8)) obtained from the multiple-scattering (MS) fitting of the X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) using a centrosymmetric model of [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(DMF)(2)] gave Cu.Cu = 2.62(2) A, mean Cu-O(Ac) = 1.95(2) A, Cu-O(L) = 2.15(2) A, bridging O-C-O = 125(1) degrees, Cu displacement from plane 0.19 A compared with the XRD data Cu.Cu = 2.630(1) A, mean Cu-O(Ac) = 1.959 A, Cu-O(L) = 2.143(5) A, bridging O-C-O angles = 123.2(5) degrees, Cu displacement from plane 0.20 A. The excellent agreement between the XAFS- and XRD-derived data allowed the structures of related [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)L(2)] (L = DMA, NMP) complexes to be determined. All display a similar Cu(2)O(10)C(8) coordination geometry, which is independent of the nature of the axial ligand. While XAFS analysis of [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(OH(2))(2)] and [Cu(2)(OAc)(4)(OH(2))(2)] indicates a coordination geometry similar to that of [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)L(2)] (L = DMF, DMA, NMP), removal of symmetry restraints in the MS model is required to obtain axial bond lengths comparable to those derived in the XRD structures of the acetate complex. For the Indo complex, the fitted bond lengths with the lower symmetry model give a mean Cu-L(OH2) bond distance within experimental errors of the value for [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(DMSO)(2)] (2.16(2) A) (XRD). The difficulty in refining the Cu-O(OH2) distance of [Cu(2)(OAc)(4)(OH(2))(2)] and [Cu(2)(Indo)(4)(OH(2))(2)] using a centrosymmetric MS model is attributed to a symmetry reduction due to hydrogen-bonding effects characteristic of the aqua adducts, as is observed in the XRD structure of the acetate complex.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Structure determination, pharmacological evaluation, and structure-activity studies of a new cyclic peptide substance P antagonist containing the new amino acid 3-prenyl-beta-hydroxytyrosine, isolated from Aspergillus flavipes.

Two novel cyclic heptapeptides, peptides 1a and 1c, were isolated from an Aspergillus flavipes culture, originally isolated from soil, and their structures established by chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Peptide 1a contains a new amino acid, 3-prenyl-beta-hydroxytyrosine, and is a competitive antagonist to substance P at the human NK1 receptor, with an inhibitor affinity constant (Ki) of 8 +/- 4 microM. Methylation of 1a gave the monomethyl derivative 1b, which is a more potent competitive antagonist, with a Ki of 0.12 +/- 0.03 microM at the human NK1 receptor. Herein we report the structure determinations of 1a and 1c, and some structure-activity results. Several analogs of 1a were prepared by derivatization and synthesis. Structure-activity results for these analogs confirmed that the 3-prenyl-beta-hydroxytyrosine moiety is critical for the biological potency of 1a and 1b.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dityrosine cross-linked Abeta peptides: fibrillar beta-structure in Abeta(1-40) is conducive to formation of dityrosine cross-links but a dityrosine cross-link in Abeta(8-14) does not induce beta-structure.

Recent reports by Galeazzi and co-workers demonstrated the susceptibility of Abeta(1-42) to undergo dityrosine formation via peroxidase-catalyzed tyrosine cross-linking. We have formed dityrosine cross-links in Abeta(1-40) using these enzymatic conditions as well as a copper-H(2)O(2) method. The efficiency of dityrosine cross-link formation is strongly influenced by the aggregation state of Abeta; more dityrosine is formed when copper-H(2)O(2) or horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation is applied to fibrillar Abeta vs soluble Abeta. Once formed, dityrosine cross-links are susceptible to further oxidative processes and it appears that cross-links formed in soluble Abeta react through these pathways more readily than those formed in fibrillar Abeta. Because preorganization of fibrils affects the efficiency of dityrosine formation, we examined the effect of dityrosine formation upon local peptide conformation by assessing the solution structure of a small dityrosine dimer derived from Abeta(8-14). Two-dimensional (1)H NMR studies of the short dityrosine dimer offer no evidence of structure. Thus, the fibrillar structure of Abeta enhances formation of dityrosine cross-links, but dityrosine cross-links do not seem to enhance local secondary structure.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Solution structure of the human Grb7-SH2 domain/erbB2 peptide complex and structural basis for Grb7 binding to ErbB2.

The solution structure of the hGrb7-SH2 domain in complex with a ten amino acid phosphorylated peptide ligand representative of the erbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase (pY1139) is presented as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The hGrb7-SH2 domain structure reveals the Src homology 2 domain topology consisting of a central beta-sheet capped at each end by an alpha-helix. The presence of a four residue insertion in the region between beta-strand E and the EF loop and resulting influences on the SH2 domain/peptide complex structure are discussed. The binding conformation of the erbB2 peptide is in a beta-turn similar to that found in phosphorylated tyrosine peptides bound to the Grb2-SH2 domain. To our knowledge this is only the second example of an SH2 domain binding its naturally occurring ligands in a turn, instead of extended, conformation. Close contacts between residues responsible for binding specificity in hGrb7-SH2 and the erbB2 peptide are characterized and the potential effect of mutation of these residues on the hGrb7-SH2 domain structure is discussed.

Amino Acids↗

Crystal structure of the endosomal SNARE complex reveals common structural principles of all SNAREs.

SNARE proteins are crucial for intracellular membrane fusion in all eukaryotes. These proteins assemble into tight complexes that connect membranes and may induce fusion. The crystal structure of the neuronal core complex is represented by an unusually long bundle of four alpha-helices connected by 16 layers of mostly hydrophobic amino acids. Here we report the 1.9 A resolution crystal structure of an endosomal SNARE core complex containing four SNAREs: syntaxin 7, syntaxin 8, vti1b and endobrevin/VAMP-8. Despite limited sequence homology, the helix alignment and the layer structure of the endosomal complex are remarkably similar to those of the neuronal complex. However, subtle variations are evident that characterize different SNARE subfamilies. We conclude that the structure of the SNARE core complex is an evolutionarily conserved hallmark of all SNARE complexes and is intimately associated with the general role of SNAREs in membrane fusion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural model for gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor noncompetitive antagonist binding: widely diverse structures fit the same site.

Several major insecticides, including alpha-endosulfan, lindane, and fipronil, and the botanical picrotoxinin are noncompetitive antagonists (NCAs) for the GABA receptor. We showed earlier that human beta(3) homopentameric GABA(A) receptor recognizes all of the important GABAergic insecticides and reproduces the high insecticide sensitivity and structure-activity relationships of the native insect receptor. Despite large structural diversity, the NCAs are proposed to fit a single binding site in the chloride channel lumen lined by five transmembrane 2 segments. This hypothesis is examined with the beta(3) homopentamer by mutagenesis, pore structure studies, NCA binding, and molecular modeling. The 15 amino acids in the cytoplasmic half of the pore were mutated to cysteine, serine, or other residue for 22 mutants overall. Localization of A-1'C, A2'C, T6'C, and L9'C (index numbers for the transmembrane 2 region) in the channel lumen was established by disulfide cross-linking. Binding of two NCA radioligands [(3)H]1-(4-ethynylphenyl)-4-n-propyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and [(3)H] 3,3-bis-trifluoromethyl-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2,2-dicarbonitrile was dramatically reduced with 8 of the 15 mutated positions, focusing attention on A2', T6', and L9' as proposed binding sites, consistent with earlier mutagenesis studies. The cytoplasmic half of the beta3 homopentamer pore was modeled as an alpha-helix. The six NCAs listed above plus t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate fit the 2' to 9' pore region forming hydrogen bonds with the T6' hydroxyl and hydrophobic interactions with A2', T6', and L9' alkyl substituents, thereby blocking the channel. Thus, widely diverse NCA structures fit the same GABA receptor beta subunit site with important implications for insecticide cross-resistance and selective toxicity between insects and mammals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure-function relationships of the yeast fatty acid synthase: negative-stain, cryo-electron microscopy, and image analysis studies of the end views of the structure.

The yeast fatty acid synthase (M(r) = 2.5 x 10(6)) is organized in an alpha 6 beta 6 complex. In these studies, the synthase structure has been examined by negative-stain and cryo-electron microscopy. Side and end views of the structure indicate that the molecule, shaped similar to a prolate ellipsoid, has a high-density band of protein bisecting its major axis. Stained and frozen-hydrated average images of the end views show an excellent concordance and a hexagonal ring having three each alternating egg- and kidney-shaped features with low-protein-density protrusions extending outward from the egg-shaped features. Images also show that the barrel-like structure is not hollow but has a Y-shaped central core, which appears to make contact with the three egg-shaped features. Numerous side views of the structure give good evidence that the beta subunits have an archlike shape. We propose a model for the synthase that has point-group symmetry 32 and six equivalent sites of fatty acid synthesis. The protomeric unit is alpha 2 beta 2. The ends of each of the two archlike beta subunits interact with opposite sides of the two dichotomously arranged disclike alpha subunits. Three such protomeric units form the ring. We propose that the six fatty acid synthesizing centers are composed of two complementary half-alpha subunits and a beta subunit, an arrangement having all the partial activities of the multifunctional enzyme required for fatty acid synthesis.

Fatty Acid Synthases↗

Crystal structure of L-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. YL. An alpha/beta hydrolase structure that is different from the alpha/beta hydrolase fold.

L-2-Haloacid dehalogenase catalyzes the hydrolytic dehalogenation of L-2-haloalkanoic acids to yield the corresponding D-2-hydroxyalkanoic acids. The crystal structure of the homodimeric enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. YL has been determined by a multiple isomorphous replacement method and refined at 2.5 A resolution to a crystallographic R-factor of 19.5%. The subunit consists of two structurally distinct domains: the core domain and the subdomain. The core domain has an alpha/beta structure formed by a six-stranded parallel beta-sheet flanked by five alpha-helices. The subdomain inserted into the core domain has a four helix bundle structure providing the greater part of the interface for dimer formation. There is an active site cavity between the domains. An experimentally identified nucleophilic residue, Asp-10, is located on a loop following the amino-terminal beta-strand in the core domain, and other functional residues, Thr-14, Arg-41, Ser-118, Lys-151, Tyr-157, Ser-175, Asn-177, and Asp-180, detected by a site-directed mutagenesis experiment, are arranged around the nucleophile in the active site. Although the enzyme is an alpha/beta-type hydrolase, it does not belong to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family, from the viewpoint of the topological feature and the position of the nucleophile.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of site-directed mutagenesis on structure and function of recombinant rat liver S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. Crystal structure of D244E mutant enzyme.

A site-directed mutagenesis, D244E, of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcyase) changes drastically the nature of the protein, especially the NAD(+) binding affinity. The mutant enzyme contained NADH rather than NAD(+) (Gomi, T., Takata, Y., Date, T., Fujioka, M., Aksamit, R. R., Backlund, P. S., and Cantoni, G. L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 16102-16107). In contrast to the site-directed mutagenesis study, the crystal structures of human and rat AdoHcyase recently determined have shown that the carboxyl group of Asp-244 points in a direction opposite to the bound NAD molecule and does not participate in any hydrogen bonds with the NAD molecule. To explain the discrepancy between the mutagenesis study and the x-ray studies, we have determined the crystal structure of the recombinant rat-liver D244E mutant enzyme to 2.8-A resolution. The D244E mutation changes the enzyme structure from the open to the closed conformation by means of a approximately 17 degrees rotation of the individual catalytic domains around the molecular hinge sections. The D244E mutation shifts the catalytic reaction from a reversible to an irreversible fashion. The large affinity difference between NAD(+) and NADH is mainly due to the enzyme conformation, but not to the binding-site geometry; an NAD(+) in the open conformation is readily released from the enzyme, whereas an NADH in the closed conformation is trapped and cannot leave the enzyme. A catalytic mechanism of AdoHcyase has been proposed on the basis of the crystal structures of the wild-type and D244E enzymes.

Adenosylhomocysteinase↗

Crystal structure of a 92-residue C-terminal fragment of TonB from Escherichia coli reveals significant conformational changes compared to structures of smaller TonB fragments.

Uptake of siderophores and vitamin B(12) through the outer membrane of Escherichia coli is effected by an active transport system consisting of several outer membrane receptors and a protein complex of the inner membrane. The link between these is TonB, a protein associated with the cytoplasmic membrane, which forms a large periplasmic domain capable of interacting with several outer membrane receptors, e.g. FhuA, FecA, and FepA for siderophores and BtuB for vitamin B(12.) The active transport across the outer membrane is driven by the chemiosmotic gradient of the inner membrane and is mediated by the TonB protein. The receptor-binding domain of TonB appears to be formed by a highly conserved C-terminal amino acid sequence of approximately 100 residues. Crystal structures of two C-terminal TonB fragments composed of 85 (TonB-85) and 77 (TonB-77) amino acid residues, respectively, have been previously determined (Chang, C., Mooser, A., Pluckthun, A., and Wlodawer, A. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 27535-27540 and Koedding, J., Howard, S. P., Kaufmann, L., Polzer, P., Lustig, A., and Welte, W. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 9978-9986). In both cases the TonB fragments form dimers in solution and crystallize as dimers consisting of monomers tightly engaged with one another by the exchange of a beta-hairpin and a C-terminal beta-strand. Here we present the crystal structure of a 92-residue fragment of TonB (TonB-92), which is monomeric in solution. The structure, determined at 1.13-A resolution, shows a dimer with considerably reduced intermolecular interaction compared with the other known TonB structures, in particular lacking the beta-hairpin exchange.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Flexible secondary structure based protein structure comparison applied to the detection of circular permutation.

We present a novel method for structural comparison of protein structures. The approach consists of two main phases: 1) an initial search phase where, starting from aligned pairs of secondary structure elements, the space of 3D transformations is searched for similarities and 2) a subsequent refinement phase where interim solutions are subjected to parallel, local, iterative dynamic programming in the areas of possible improvement. The proposed method combines dynamic programming for finding alignments but does not restrict solutions to be sequential. In addition, to deal with the problem of nonuniqueness of optimal similarities, we introduce a consensus scoring method in selecting the preferred similarity and provide a list of top-ranked solutions. The method, called FASE (flexible alignment of secondary structure elements), was tested on well-known data and various standard problems from the literature. The results show that FASE is able to find remote and weak similarities consistently using a reasonable run time. The method was tested (using the SCOP database) on its ability to discriminate interfold pairs from intrafold pairs at the level of the best existing methods. The method was then applied to the problem of finding circular permutations in proteins.

Animals↗

Crystal structure of calpain reveals the structural basis for Ca(2+)-dependent protease activity and a novel mode of enzyme activation.

The combination of thiol protease activity and calmodulin-like EF-hands is a feature unique to the calpains. The regulatory mechanisms governing calpain activity are complex, and the nature of the Ca(2+)-induced switch between inactive and active forms has remained elusive in the absence of structural information. We describe here the 2.6 A crystal structure of m-calpain in the Ca(2+)-free form, which illustrates the structural basis for the inactivity of calpain in the absence of Ca(2+). It also reveals an unusual thiol protease fold, which is associated with Ca(2+)-binding domains through heterodimerization and a C(2)-like beta-sandwich domain. Strikingly, the structure shows that the catalytic triad is not assembled, indicating that Ca(2+)-binding must induce conformational changes that re-orient the protease domains to form a functional active site. The alpha-helical N-terminal anchor of the catalytic subunit does not occupy the active site but inhibits its assembly and regulates Ca(2+)-sensitivity through association with the regulatory subunit. This Ca(2+)-dependent activation mechanism is clearly distinct from those of classical proteases.

Animals↗

Crystal structure of trbp111: a structure-specific tRNA-binding protein.

Trbp111 is a 111 amino acid Aquifex aeolicus structure-specific tRNA-binding protein that has homologous counterparts distributed throughout evolution. A dimer is the functional unit for binding a single tRNA. Here we report the 3D structures of the A.aeolicus protein and its Escherichia coli homolog at resolutions of 2.50 and 1.87 A, respectively. The structure shows a symmetrical dimer of two core domains and a central dimerization domain where the N- and C-terminal regions of Trbp111 form an extensive dimer interface. The core of the monomer is a classical oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB) fold with a five-stranded ss-barrel and a small capping helix. This structure is similar to that seen in the anticodon-binding domain of three class II tRNA synthetases and several other proteins. Mutational analysis identified sites important for interactions with tRNA. These residues line the inner surfaces of two clefts formed between the ss-barrel of each monomer and the dimer interface. The results are consistent with a proposed model for asymmetrical docking of the convex side of tRNA to the dimer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

SCRATCH: a protein structure and structural feature prediction server.

SCRATCH is a server for predicting protein tertiary structure and structural features. The SCRATCH software suite includes predictors for secondary structure, relative solvent accessibility, disordered regions, domains, disulfide bridges, single mutation stability, residue contacts versus average, individual residue contacts and tertiary structure. The user simply provides an amino acid sequence and selects the desired predictions, then submits to the server. Results are emailed to the user. The server is available at http://www.igb.uci.edu/servers/psss.html.

Disulfides↗