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Resolution of phospholipid conformational heterogeneity in model membranes by spin-label EPR and frequency-domain fluorescence spectroscopy.

We have utilized both fluorescent and nitroxide derivatives of stearic acid as probes of membrane structural heterogeneity in phospholipid vesicles under physiological conditions, as well as conditions of varying ionic strengths and temperatures where spectral heterogeneity has been previously observed and attributed to multiple ionization states of the probes. To identify the source of this spectral heterogeneity, we have utilized complimentary measurements of the relaxation properties (lifetimes) and motion of both (a) spin labeled and anthroyloxy derivatives of stearic acid (i.e., SASL and AS) and (b) a diphenylhexatriene derivative of phosphatidylcholine (DPH-PC) in single component membranes containing dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). We use an 15N stearic-acid spin label for optimal sensitivity to membrane heterogeneity. The lifetime and dynamics of the fluorescent phospholipid analogue DPH-PC (with no ionizable groups over this pH range) were compared with those of AS, allowing us to discriminate between changes in membrane structure and the ionization of the label. The quantum yield and rotational dynamics of DPH-PC are independent of pH, indicating that changes in pH do not affect the conformation of the host phospholipids. However, both EPR spectra of SASL and the lifetime or dynamics of AS are affected profoundly by changes in solution pH. The apparent pKa's of these two probes in DMPC membranes were determined to be near pH 6.3, implying that at physiological pH and ionic strength these stearic-acid labels exist predominantly as a single ionized population in membranes. Therefore, the observed temperature- and ionic-strength-dependent alterations in the spectra of SASL as well as the lifetime or dynamics of AS in DMPC membranes at neutral pH are due to changes in membrane structure rather than the ionization of the probes. The possibility that ionic gradients across biological membranes induce alterations in phospholipid structures, thereby modulating lipid-protein interactions is discussed.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

Identifying structural features of fibrillar islet amyloid polypeptide using site-directed spin labeling.

Pancreatic amyloid deposits, composed primarily of the 37-residue islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), are a characteristic feature found in more than 90% of patients with type II diabetes. Although IAPP amyloid deposits are associated with areas of pancreatic islet beta-cell dysfunction and depletion and are thought to play a role in disease, their structure is unknown. We used electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to analyze eight spin-labeled derivatives of IAPP in an effort to determine structural features of the peptide. In solution, all eight derivatives gave rise to electron paramagnetic resonance spectra with sharp lines indicative of rapid motion on the sub-nanosecond time scale. These spectra are consistent with a rapidly tumbling and highly dynamic peptide. In contrast, spectra for the fibrillar form exhibit reduced mobility and the presence of strong intermolecular spin-spin interactions. The latter implies that the peptide subunits are ordered and that the same residues from neighboring peptides are in close proximity to one another. Our data are consistent with a parallel arrangement of IAPP peptides within the amyloid fibril. Analysis of spin label mobility indicates a high degree of order throughout the peptide, although the N-terminal region is slightly less ordered. Possible similarities with respect to the domain organization and parallelism of Alzheimer's amyloid beta peptide fibrils are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding of nitroxide stearate spin labels to bovine serum albumin.

1. 12-Nitroxide stearate binds to bovine serum albumin at about four independent and equivalent binding sites with an association constant of about 10(6) M-1. The binding at these high affinity binding sites is significantly reduced by addition of unlabeled stearate. These data suggest that nitroxide stearates probe the high affinity binding sites for long-chain fatty acids. 2. Qualitative analyses of the ESR spectra of 5-, 12- and 16-nitroxide stearate bound to bovine serum albumin and measurements of the interaction of these compounds so bound with ferricyanide ion provide a rough description of the binding site as follows: the polar headgroup of the spin-labeled fatty acid is rigidly fixed, but fairly accessible to paramagnetic ions. The middle part of the hydrocarbon chain of bound stearate spin label also is rigidly fixed but differs in being shielded from the solvent, presumably by a hydrophobic cleft. The methyl terminus shows greater motion, appearing to move within a narrow cone, and also appears to be somewhat accessible to paramagnetic ions.

Binding Sites↗

[Binding of spin-labeled palmitic acid by bovine serum albumin].

Investigation of the binding of spin-labeled palmitic acid and its esters with bovine serum albumin is presented. Both probes are shown to bind strictly to strongly and loosely binding centers of protein. The quantitative study allows to determine the binding constant and number of protein binding sites. It is found that the total binding constant for esterified derivative is several times as much as that of palmitic acid.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Genetic insertion of nuclear spin labels in the lac repressor.

A general strategy for the insertion of nuclear spin labels throughout the sequence of a protein is illustrated with the Escherichia coli lac repressor. Examples are shown where the 19F nucleus is incorporated using 3-fluorotyrosine, as well as the selective insertion of additional protons. These selectively inserted nuclei give additional resonances in the respective NMR spectra that can be used to probe the structure and function of the proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Spin labeled amino acid nitrosourea derivatives--synthesis and antitumour activity.

The synthesis of three spin labeled derivatives of N-[N'-(chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosocarbamoyl] amino acids is reported. The new nitrosoureas are obtained by condensation of the corresponding N-[N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosocarbamoyl] amino acid with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxyl-4-aminopiperidine using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Their chemical structures are confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, MS, and EPR spectroscopy. All newly synthesized compounds showed high antitumour activity against the lymphoid leukemia L1210 in BDF1 mice.

Amino Acids↗

Amplitude-modulated continuous arterial spin-labeling 3.0-T perfusion MR imaging with a single coil: feasibility study.

Written informed consent was obtained prior to all human studies after the institutional review board approved the protocol. A continuous arterial spin-labeling technique with an amplitude-modulated control was implemented by using a single coil at 3.0 T. Adiabatic inversion efficiency at 3.0 T, comparable to that at 1.5 T, was achieved by reducing the amplitude of radiofrequency pulses and gradient strengths appropriately. The amplitude-modulated control provided a good match for the magnetization transfer effect of labeling pulses, allowing multisection perfusion magnetic resonance imaging of the whole brain. Comparison of multisection continuous and pulsed arterial spin-labeling methods at 3.0 T showed a 33% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio by using the former approach.

Adult↗

Spin label electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of Huntington disease erythrocyte membranes.

Several spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of red cell membranes appear to show abnormalities in some Huntington disease (HD) patients, but not in others. Both studies measure the W/S ratios, presumably under similar conditions, but have different results. We have studied the W/S ratio in some detail to gain a better understanding of this experimental parameter and to determine its potential application in detecting HD abnormalities. Our results offer little encouragement for continued use of W/S as an indication of membrane defect in HD.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

The cellulose-binding domains from Cellulomonas fimi beta-1, 4-glucanase CenC bind nitroxide spin-labeled cellooligosaccharides in multiple orientations.

The N-terminal cellulose-binding domains CBDN1 and CBDN2 from Cellulomonas fimi cellulase CenC each adopt a jelly-roll beta-sandwich structure with a cleft into which amorphous cellulose and soluble cellooligosaccharides bind. To determine the orientation of the sugar chain within these binding clefts, the association of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-yl) spin-labeled derivatives of cellotriose and cellotetraose with isolated CBDN1 and CBDN2 was studied using heteronuclear 1H-15N NMR spectroscopy. Quantitative binding measurements indicate that the TEMPO moiety does not significantly perturb the affinity of the cellooligo-saccharide derivatives for the CBDs. The paramagnetic enhancements of the amide 1HN longitudinal (DeltaR1) and transverse (DeltaR2) relaxation rates were measured by comparing the effects of TEMPO-cellotetraose in its nitroxide (oxidized) and hydroxylamine (reduced) forms on the two CBDs. The bound spin-label affects most significantly the relaxation rates of amides located at both ends of the sugar-binding cleft of each CBD. Similar results are observed with TEMPO-cellotriose bound to CBDN1. This demonstrates that the TEMPO-labeled cellooligosaccharides, and by inference strands of amorphous cellulose, can associate with CBDN1 and CBDN2 in either orientation across their beta-sheet binding clefts. The ratio of the association constants for binding in each of these two orientations is estimated to be within a factor of five to tenfold. This finding is consistent with the approximate symmetry of the hydrogen-bonding groups on both the cellooligosaccharides and the residues forming the binding clefts of the CenC CBDs.

Binding Sites↗

Site-directed spin-labeling reveals the orientation of the amino acid side-chains in the E-F loop of bacteriorhodopsin.

Due to high temperature factors and the lack of considerable electron density, electron microscopy and X-ray experiments on the cytoplasmic E-F loop of bacteriorhodopsin result in a variety of structural models. As the experimental conditions regarding ionic strength, temperature and the presence of detergents may affect the structure of the E-F loop, we employ electron paramagnetic resonance and site-directed spin-labeling to study the structure of this loop under physiological conditions. The amino acid residues at positions 154 to 171 were replaced by cysteine residues and derivatized with a sulfhydryl-specific nitroxide spin label one by one. The conventional and power saturation electron paramagnetic spectroscopy provide the mobility of the nitroxide and its accessibility to dissolved molecular oxygen and membrane-impermeable chromium oxalate in the respective site. The results show that K159 and A168 are located at the water-lipid interface of helices E and F, respectively. The orientation of the amino acid side-chains in the helical regions from positions 154 to 159 and 166 to 171 were found to agree with published structural data for bacteriorhodopsin. In the residue sequence from positions 160 to 165 the EPR data yield evidence for a turned loop structure with the side-chains of M163 and S162 oriented towards the proton channel and the water phase, respectively.

Amino Acids↗

[Interaction of spin labels and probes with Na+,K+-ATPase].

Localization of the PCMB-R spin label and benzocarboline probe bound with the purified preparation of pig kidney-Na+, K(+)-ATPase relative to active site of the enzyme was studied by EPR method. The number of Mn2+ ions in active site of the enzyme as well as that bound with lipids was determined from EPR spectra of paramagnetic manganese ions replacing magnesium ions were measured in frozen protein samples of Na2+, K(+)-ATPase at 77 K. It has been found that sulfhydryl group of the enzyme modified by PCMB-R and benzocarboline probe are placed at distances 38 A and 50 A, respectively, from Mn2+ ions in the active site of Na+, K(+)-ATPase. Evaluation of the immersion depth of the nitroxyl radical into protein globule showed that benzocarboline probe was immobilized near the macromolecular protein surface; there are two bound probe sites, distinguished by accessibility of ferricyanide ions.

Animals↗

Physical modifications of rhodopsin boundary lipids in lecithin-rhodopsin complexes: a spin-label study.

The microviscosity of rhodopsin boundary lipids was studied with a spin-labeled fatty acid covalently attached to rhodopsin, in rhodopsin-egg lecithin vesicles. When the lipid-to-protein ratio was high (500:1, mole to mole), only narrow peaks were visible in electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum at 37 degrees C. This enabled us to show that, under these conditions, not more than 10% of the probes have their motion strongly restricted by the proximity of the protein. When the temperature was reduced, a second component characteristic of strong immobilization appeared. It corresponds to 50% of the signal at -5 degrees C. At all temperatures reduction of the lipid-to-protein ratio also resulted in an increase of the amount of immobilized lipid. These results show that the rhodopsin boundary layer under physiological conditions is associated with low microviscosity. However, low temperatures, low lipid-to-protein ratios, or combinations of the two can induce dramatic modifications of the physical state of the boundary lipids, which under these conditions may no longer be representative of the functional biological system. These results are relevant to the general theory of lipid-protein interaction.

Animals↗

Quantitative perfusion measurements using pulsed arterial spin labeling: effects of large region-of-interest analysis.

PURPOSE: To study arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI techniques and to investigate various problematic issues that still hinder the accurate and robust quantitative analysis of ASL data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pulsed-ASL (PASL) sequence was implemented on a 3-T imaging system and a protocol was developed for the measurement of perfusion based on fitting to a standard kinetic model. Both numerical simulations and multi-inversion time MRI data were analyzed. The effect of fitting a kinetic curve to a large region of interest (ROI) with a distribution of arterial transit times was compared to a pixel-by-pixel (PBP) method. RESULTS: It was found that a significant underestimation of perfusion of approximately 17+/-6% (P<0.001) occurs in gray matter, when comparing an ROI with a PBP analysis over a group of 12 healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: Analysis of ASL data based on a large ROI may suffer from inaccuracies arising from a distribution of transit times, implying that averaging of ASL kinetic data over such regions should therefore be avoided. When possible, a PBP fit should be performed.

Adult↗

Mapping backbone dynamics in solution with site-directed spin labeling: GCN4-58 bZip free and bound to DNA.

In site-directed spin labeling, a nitroxide-containing side chain is introduced at selected sites in a protein. The EPR spectrum of the labeled protein encodes information about the motion of the nitroxide on the nanosecond time scale, which has contributions from the rotary diffusion of the protein, from internal motions in the side chain, and from backbone fluctuations. In the simplest model for the motion of noninteracting (surface) side chains, the contribution from the internal motion is sequence independent, as is that from protein rotary diffusion. Hence, differences in backbone motions should be revealed by comparing the sequence-dependent motions of nitroxides at structurally homologous sites. To examine this model, nitroxide side chains were introduced, one at a time, along the GCN4-58 bZip sequence, for which NMR (15)N relaxation experiments have identified a striking gradient of backbone mobility along the DNA-binding region [Bracken et al. (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 285, 2133]. Spectral simulation techniques and a simple line width measure were used to extract dynamical parameters from the EPR spectra, and the results reveal a mobility gradient similar to that observed in NMR relaxation, indicating that side chain motions mirror backbone motions. In addition, the sequence-dependent side chain dynamics were analyzed in the DNA/protein complex, which has not been previously investigated by NMR relaxation methods. As anticipated, the backbone motions are damped in the DNA-bound state, although a gradient of motion persists with residues at the DNA-binding site being the most highly ordered, similar to those of helices on globular proteins.

DNA↗

Comparison of multislice and single-slice acquisitions for pulsed arterial spin labeling measurements of cerebral perfusion.

Multislice Q2TIPS is a widely used pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL) technique for efficient and accurate quantification of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Slices are typically acquired inferior to superior from a tagging plane. Superior slices show signal loss greater than the loss expected from blood T1 decay. In order to assess the reasons for this additional signal loss, three single-slice acquisition studies were compared to multislice acquisition (six slices) in healthy volunteers. In Study 1 (n=8), the tagging plane was fixed in location, and the inversion time (TI2) was 1500 ms for each slice. For Study 2 (n=12), the tagging plane was fixed as in Study 1; however, TI2 increased as slices were acquired further from the tagging plane. In Study 3 (n=9), the tagging plane was kept adjacent to the imaging slice, and TI2 was 1500 ms for every slice. Gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and CBF were measured per slice. GM SNR from single-slice acquisitions was significantly higher at slices 4-6 in Study 2 and at slices 2-6 in Study 3 compared to multislice acquisitions. Signal loss in distal slices of multislice acquisitions can be attributed to the destruction of tagged bolus in addition to blood T1 decay. If limited brain coverage is acceptable, perfusion images with greater SNR are achievable with limited slices and placement of the tagging region immediately adjacent to the site of interest.

Adult↗

Localization of dolichols in phospholipid membranes. An ESR spin label study.

We have used ESR methods employing spin-labeled stearates to investigate the effects of dolichol on the motion of lipid molecules in phospholipid membranes of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. The ESR spectra show that the presence of dolichol affects the motion of the spin probes at carbon-16, but not at carbon-5. Similar results are obtained with phospholipid membranes comprising only phosphatidylcholine. It is suggested that dolichol molecules are present mainly in the lipid core region of phospholipid membranes.

Diterpenes↗

Membrane position of a basic aromatic peptide that sequesters phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate determined by site-directed spin labeling and high-resolution NMR.

The membrane interactions and position of a positively charged and highly aromatic peptide derived from a secretory carrier membrane protein (SCAMP) are examined using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and several biochemical methods. This peptide (SCAMP-E) is shown to bind to membranes containing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, PI(4,5)P2, and sequester PI(4,5)P2 within the plane of the membrane. Site-directed spin labeling of the SCAMP-E peptide indicates that the position and structure of membrane bound SCAMP-E are not altered by the presence of PI(4,5)P2, and that the peptide backbone is positioned within the lipid interface below the level of the lipid phosphates. A second approach using high-resolution NMR was used to generate a model for SCAMP-E bound to bicelles. This approach combined oxygen enhancements of nuclear relaxation with a computational method to dock the SCAMP-E peptide at the lipid interface. The model for SCAMP generated by NMR is consistent with the results of site-directed spin labeling and places the peptide backbone in the bilayer interfacial region and the aromatic side chains within the lipid hydrocarbon region. The charged side chains of SCAMP-E lie well within the interface with two arginine residues lying deeper than a plane defined by the position of the lipid phosphates. These data suggest that SCAMP-E interacts with PI(4,5)P2 through an electrostatic mechanism that does not involve specific lipid-peptide contacts. This interaction may be facilitated by the position of the positively charged side chains on SCAMP-E within a low-dielectric region of the bilayer interface.

Binding Sites↗

Interaction of alpha-crystallin with spin-labeled peptides.

alpha-Crystallin is a major protein of the vertebrate lens once thought to be highly specialized for conferring transparency. However, recent work has revealed a wide tissue distribution and a sequence homology to small heat shock proteins, suggesting a more general role for the protein. Like other molecular chaperons, alpha-crystallin is known to bind to unfolded proteins and suppress nonspecific aggregation in vitro. In the present work, spin-labeled derivatives of the insulin B chain and melittin were used to investigate the state of these proteins bound to alpha-crystallin. Insulin was selected since unfolding can be triggered by reduction of the interchain disulfide bonds, a treatment that does not affect alpha-crystallin. Upon reduction of insulin, the separated B chains aggregate. In the presence of alpha-crystallin, the B chains bind to alpha-crystallin and aggregation is suppressed. Melittin, a 26 amino acid peptide from bee venom, was selected for study since it is a random coil under physiological conditions, and its interaction with alpha-crystallin can be directly studied. EPR analysis of the spin-labeled peptides shows that the nitroxide side chains are immobilized in a polar environment on alpha-crystallin and that they are separated by 25 A or more in the complex, indicating that the bound proteins are not clustered. The bound B chains of insulin are not in a fully extended conformation, and melittin does not appear to bind to a hydrophobic surface in alpha-crystallin as an amphipathic helix, as it does to membranes and some other proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Crystallins↗