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Characterization of the multiple conformational States of free monomeric and trimeric human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins after fixation by cross-linker.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 exterior and gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoproteins assemble into trimers on the virus surface that represent potential targets for antibodies. Potent neutralizing antibodies bind the monomeric gp120 glycoprotein with small changes in entropy, whereas unusually large decreases in entropy accompany gp120 binding by soluble CD4 and less potent neutralizing antibodies. The high degree of conformational flexibility in the free gp120 molecule implied by these observations has been suggested to contribute to masking the trimer from antibodies that recognize the gp120 receptor-binding regions. Here we use cross-linking and recognition by antibodies to investigate the conformational states of gp120 monomers and soluble and cell surface forms of the trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. The fraction of monomeric and trimeric envelope glycoproteins able to be recognized after fixation was inversely related to the entropic changes associated with ligand binding. In addition, fixation apparently limited the access of antibodies to the V3 loop and gp41-interactive surface of gp120 only in the context of trimeric envelope glycoproteins. The results support a model in which the unliganded monomeric and trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins sample several different conformations. Depletion of particular fixed conformations by antibodies allowed characterization of the relationships among the conformational states. Potent neutralizing antibodies recognize the greatest number of conformations and therefore can bind the virion envelope glycoproteins more rapidly and completely than weakly neutralizing antibodies. Thus, the conformational flexibility of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins creates thermodynamic and kinetic barriers to neutralization by antibodies directed against the receptor-binding regions of gp120.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Porcine submaxillary mucin forms disulfide-linked multimers through its amino-terminal D-domains.

COS-7 cells expressing 1,360 residues from the amino terminus of porcine submaxillary mucin were used to determine whether this region, containing the D1, D2, and D3 domains, is involved in forming mucin multimers. Analysis of the proteins immunoprecipitated from the medium of transfected cells by reducing SDS-gel electrophoresis showed a single N-glycosylated protein with no indication of proteolytically processed forms. Without prior reduction, only two proteins, corresponding to monomeric and disulfide-linked trimeric species, were observed. The expressed protein devoid of N-linked oligosaccharides also formed trimers, but was secreted from cells in significantly less amounts than glycosylated trimers. Pulse-chase studies showed that the disulfide-linked trimers were assembled inside the cells no earlier than 30 min after protein synthesis commenced and after the intracellular precursors were N-glycosylated. Trimer formation was inhibited in cells treated with brefeldin A, monensin, chloroquine, or bafilomycin A1, although only brefeldin A prevented the secretion of the protein. These results suggest that trimerization takes place in compartments of the Golgi complex in which the vacuolar H+-ATPase maintains an acidic pH. Coexpression in the same cells of the amino-terminal region and the disulfide-rich carboxyl-terminal domain of the mucin showed that these structures were not disulfide-linked with one another. Cells expressing a DNA construct encoding a fusion protein between the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions of the mucin secreted disulfide-linked dimeric and high molecular weight multimeric species of the recombinant mucin. The presence of monensin in the medium was without effect on dimerization, but inhibited the formation of disulfide-linked multimers. These studies suggest that disulfide-linked dimers of mucin are subsequently assembled into disulfide-linked multimers by the amino-terminal regions. They also suggest that the porcine mucin forms branched disulfide-linked multimers. This ability of the amino-terminal region of mucin to aid in the assembly of multimers is consistent with its amino acid identities to the amino-terminal region of human von Willebrand factor, which also serves to form disulfide-linked multimers of this protein.

Animals↗

A dimer as a building block in assembling RNA. A hexamer that gears bacterial virus phi29 DNA-translocating machinery.

Six RNA (pRNA) molecules form a hexamer, via hand-in-hand interaction, to gear bacterial virus phi29 DNA translocation machinery. Here we report the pathway and the conditions for the hexamer formation. Stable pRNA dimers and trimers were assembled in solution, isolated from native gels, and separated by sedimentation, providing a model system for the study of RNA dimers and trimers in a protein-free environment. Cryo-atomic force microscopy revealed that monomers displayed a check mark outline, dimers exhibited an elongated shape, and trimers formed a triangle. Dimerization of pRNA was promoted by a variety of cations including spermidine, whereas procapsid binding and DNA packaging required specific divalent cations, including Mg(2+), Ca(2+), and Mn(2+). Both the tandem and fused pRNA dimers with complementary loops designed to form even-numbered rings were active in DNA packaging, whereas those without complementary loops were inactive. We conclude that dimers are the building blocks of the hexamer, and the pathway of building a hexamer is: dimer --> tetramer --> hexamer. The Hill coefficient of 2.5 suggests that there are three binding sites with cooperative binding on the surface of the procapsid. The two interacting loops played a key role in recruiting the incoming dimer, whereas the procapsid served as the foundation for hexamer assembly.

Bacteriophages↗

Assembly of LamB and OmpF in deep rough lipopolysaccharide mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

Assembly of the OmpF and LamB proteins was kinetically retarded in deep rough lipopolysaccharide mutants of Escherichia coli K-12. OmpF assembly was affected at the step of conversion of metastable trimers to stable trimers, whereas LamB assembly was influenced both at the monomer-to-metastable trimer and metastable-to-stable trimer steps. These assembly defects were reversed in the presence of the sfaA1 and sfaB3 suppressor alleles, which were isolated by using ompF assembly mutants.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Major histocompatibility class I folding, assembly, and degradation: a paradigm for two-stage quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Protein folding in living cells is a complex process involving many interdependent factors. The primary site for folding of nascent proteins destined for secretion is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Several disease states, including cystic fibrosis, are brought about because of irregularities in protein folding. Under normal cellular conditions, "quality control" mechanisms ensure that only correctly folded proteins are exported from the ER, with incorrectly folded or incompletely assembled proteins being degraded. Quality control mechanisms can be divided into two broad processes: (1) Primary quality control involves general mechanisms that are not specific for individual proteins; these monitor the fidelity of nascent protein folding in the ER and mediate the destruction of incompletely folded proteins. (2) Partially folded or assembled proteins may be subject to secondary quality control mechanisms that are protein- or protein-family-specific. Here we use the folding and assembly of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I as an example to illustrate the processes of quality control in the ER. MHC class I, a trimeric complex assembled in the ER of virally infected or malignant cells, presents antigenic peptide to cytotoxic T lymphocytes; this mediates cell killing and thereby prevents the spread of infection or malignancy. The folding and assembly of MHC class I is subjected to both primary and secondary quality control mechanisms that lead either to correct folding, assembly, and secretion or to degradation via a proteasome-associated mechanism.

Animals↗

Self-assembly of proglycinin and hybrid proglycinin synthesized in vitro from cDNA.

An in vitro system was developed that results in the self-assembly of subunit precursors into complexes that resemble those found naturally in the endoplasmic reticulum. Subunits of glycinin, the predominant seed protein of soybeans, were synthesized from modified cDNAs using a combination of the SP6 transcription and the rabbit reticulocyte translation systems. Subunits produced from plasmid constructions that encoded either Gy4 or Gy5 gene products, but modified such that their signal sequences were absent, self-assembled into trimers equivalent in size to those precursors found in the endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast, proteins synthesized in vitro from Gy4 constructs failed to self-assemble when the signal sequence was left intact (e.g., preproglycinin) or when the coding sequence was modified to remove 27 amino acids from an internal hydrophobic region, which is highly conserved among the glycinin subunits. Various hybrid subunits were also produced by trading portions of Gy4 and Gy5 cDNAs and all self-assembled in our system. The in vitro assembly system provides an opportunity to study the self-assembly of precursors and to probe for regions important for assembly. It will also be helpful in attempts to engineer beneficial nutritional changes into this important food protein.

Journal Article↗

Hexon trimerization occurring in an assembly-defective, 100K temperature-sensitive mutant of adenovirus 2.

Analysis of 100K-defective temperature-sensitive adenovirus mutants confirmed the multifunctional character of the nonstructural, virus-coded 100K protein. In addition to its function in hexon trimerization (altered in H5ts1), and its possible direct or indirect role in hexon transport to nucleus (mutated in H2ts118), genetic and biochemical evidence was presented that 100K play some critical role in the scaffolding process of adenovirus capsid. This function appeared to be defective in H2ts107 and to map between coordinates 69.0 and 69.9, leftward from the H5ts1 lesion (70-73 map units; Arrand, 1978). This corresponded to the central domain of the 100K protein, between amino acid 300 and 400 from the N end. DNA sequencing of cloned fragments of H2ts107 DNA overlapping the mutation revealed two point mutations on the same codon at nucleotide 25,082 and 25,083 (GAC----GCA), corresponding to a nonconservative amino acid change (aspartic acid----alanine) at position 324 in the 100K sequence. 100K of adenovirus 2 wild type (WT) was found to bind in significant amounts to novobiocin-affinity column, and to be coeluted with hexon, penton, IIIa, and cellular topoisomerase II activity, by novobiocin- or ATP-Mg2+-containing buffers. H2ts107 100K also bound to novobiocin column, but the elution pattern differed from that of WT, suggesting some alteration in the affinity of the mutated 100K for novobiocin. The same behavior on affinity column as H2ts107 100K was observed for 90K, a cleavage product of the 100K, found in great abundance in H2ts107 at 39.5 degrees and corresponding to the C-terminal moiety of the 100K molecule. This implied that the "novobiocin-binding" domain of the 100K was not confined at its N terminus, and was altered in the H2ts107 mutant.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

The light chain subunit is required for clathrin function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Clathrin, a multimeric protein involved in intracellular protein trafficking, is composed of three heavy chains (Chc) and three light chains (Clc). Upon disruption (clc1Delta) of the single Clc-encoding gene (CLC1) in yeast, the steady state protein levels of Chc decreased 5-10-fold compared with wild type cells; consequently, phenotypes exhibited by clc1Delta cells may result indirectly from the loss of Chc as opposed to the absence of Clc. As an approach to directly examine Clc function, clc1Delta strains were generated that carry a multicopy plasmid containing the clathrin heavy chain gene (CHC1), resulting in levels of Chc 5-10-fold elevated over wild-type levels. As with deletion of CHC1, deletion of CLC1 results in defects in growth, receptor-mediated endocytosis, and maturation of the mating pheromone alpha-factor. However, elevated Chc expression in clc1Delta cells partially suppresses the growth and alpha-factor maturation defects displayed by clc1Delta cells alone. Biochemical analyses indicate that trimerization and assembly of Chc are perturbed in the absence of Clc, resulting in vesiculation defects. Our results demonstrate that the light chain subunit of clathrin is required for efficient Chc trimerization, proper formation of clathrin coats, and the generation of clathrin-coated vesicles.

Biological Transport↗

Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein stably inserts into etioplast membranes supplemented with Zn-pheophytin a/b.

Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein, LHCP, or its precursor, pLHCP, cannot be stably inserted into barley etioplast membranes in vitro. However, when these etioplast membranes are supplemented with the chlorophyll analogs Zn-pheophytin a/b, synthesized in situ from Zn-pheophorbide a/b and digeranyl pyrophosphate, pLHCP is inserted into a protease-resistant state. This proves that chlorophyll is the only component lacking in etioplast membranes that is necessary for stable LHCP insertion. Synthesis of Zn-pheophytin b alone promotes insertion of LHCP in vitro into a protease-resistant state, whereas synthesis of Zn-pheophytin a alone does not. Insertion of pLHCP into etioplast membranes can also be stimulated by adding chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b to the membranes, albeit at a significantly lower efficiency as compared with Zn-pheophytin a/b synthesized in situ. When pLHCP is inserted into chlorophyll- or Zn-pheophytin-supplemented etioplast membranes and then assayed with protease, only the protease digestion product indicative of the monomeric major light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complex (LHCII) is found but not the one indicating trimeric complexes. In this respect, chlorophyll- or Zn-pheophytin-supplemented etioplast membranes resemble thylakoid membranes at an early greening stage: pLHCP inserted into plastid membranes from greening barley is assembled into trimeric LHCII only after more than 1 h of greening.

Chlorophyll↗

Surfactant protein A directly interacts with TLR4 and MD-2 and regulates inflammatory cellular response. Importance of supratrimeric oligomerization.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the binding of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) to TLR4 and MD-2, which are critical signaling receptors for lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). The direct binding of SP-A to the recombinant soluble form of extracellular TLR4 domain (sTLR4) and MD-2 was detected using solid-phase binding, immunoprecipitation, and BIAcore. SP-A bound to sTLR4 and MD-2 in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and an anti-SP-A monoclonal antibody whose epitope lies in the region Thr184-Gly194 blocked the SP-A binding to sTLR4 and MD-2, indicating the involvement of the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) in the binding. SP-A avidly bound to the deglycosylated forms of sTLR4 and MD-2, suggesting a protein/protein interaction. In addition, SP-A attenuated cell surface binding of smooth LPS and smooth LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in TLR4/MD-2-expressing cells. To know the role of oligomerization in the interaction of SP-A with TLR4 and MD-2, the collagenase-resistant fragment (CRF), which consisted of CRD plus neck domain of SP-A, was isolated. CRF assembled as a trimer, whereas SP-A assembled as a higher order oligomer. Although CRD was suggested to be involved in the binding, CRF exhibited approximately 600- and 155-fold higher KD for the binding to TLR4 and MD-2, respectively, when compared with SP-A. Consistently significantly higher molar concentrations of CRF were required to inhibit smooth LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion. These results demonstrate for the first time the direct interaction between SP-A and TLR4/MD-2 and suggest the importance of supratrimeric oligomerization in the immunomodulatory function of SP-A.

Binding Sites↗

Type IX collagen NC1 domain peptides can trimerize in vitro without forming a triple helix.

Synthetic peptides of the three chains of type IX collagen consisting of the carboxyl-terminal end of the COL1 domain and the complete NC1 domain were characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy and analyzed for their ability to assemble into trimers. In vitro association and oxidation result in disulfide-linked oligomers as shown by molecular sieve chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Whereas the individual peptides show a tendency to self-associate, when an equimolar amount of the three peptides was oxidized, a heterotrimer of the three chains was observed. This heterotrimer is recognized by a monoclonal antibody against the disulfide-linked NC1 domain of chicken type IX collagen, indicating the correct formation of the disulfide bonds. Circular dichroism measurements show that under the association conditions used, a triple helix does not form between the chains. These results indicate that these peptides contain all the necessary information for chain selection and assembly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dynamic nature of the quaternary structure of the vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein.

The envelope glycoprotein (G protein) of vesicular stomatitis virus probably exists in the viral envelope as a trimer of identical subunits. Depending on the conditions of solubilization, G protein may dissociate into monomers. G protein solubilized with the detergent octyl glucoside was shown to exist as oligomeric forms by sedimentation velocity analysis and chemical cross-linking. G protein was modified with either fluorescein isothiocyanate or rhodamine isothiocyanate. Resonance energy transfer between fluorescein and rhodamine labels was observed upon mixing the two labeled G proteins in octyl glucoside. This result provided further evidence that G protein in octyl glucoside is oligomeric and indicated that the subunits are capable of exchange to form mixed oligomers. Resonance energy transfer was independent of G protein concentration in the range examined (10-80 nM) and was not observed when labeled G proteins were mixed with fluorescein or rhodamine that was not conjugated to protein. Resonance energy transfer decreased upon incorporation of G protein into Triton X-100, consistent with sedimentation velocity data that G protein in Triton X-100 is primarily monomeric. Kinetic analysis showed that the subunit exchange reaction had a half-time of about 3 min at 27 degrees C that was independent of G protein concentration. These data indicate that the exchange occurs through dissociation of G protein trimers into monomers and dimers followed by reassociation into timers. Thus, in octyl glucoside, G protein must exist as an equilibrium between monomers and oligomers. This implies that monomers are capable of self-assembly into trimers.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

Domains required for assembly of adenovirus type 2 fiber trimers.

Entry of human adenovirus into cells is a two-step process, mediated in the first step by a specific interaction between the trimeric fiber protein and a specific receptor on the surface of susceptible cells. Because of the interest in human adenovirus as a vector for gene therapy, we have mapped domains in the fiber protein that are important for proper assembly of this trimeric structure and for proper addition of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (0-GlcNAc). Mutants of adenovirus type 2 fiber in this study were expressed in human cells by use of a recombinant vaccinia virus expression system that yielded protein indistinguishable from the fiber produced during adenovirus infection. The N-terminal half of the protein did not appear to influence fiber trimer formation, since deletions up to 260 amino acids (aa) from the N-terminal end as well as in-frame deletions within the shaft of the molecule still allowed trimerization; internal deletions in the shaft between aa 61 and 260 appeared to alter addition of 0-GlcNAc, as judged by loss of reactivity to a monoclonal antibody specific for this carbohydrate addition. Deletions from the C terminus of the molecule (as small as 2 aa) appeared to prevent trimer formation. Additions of amino acids to the C-terminal end of the fiber showed variable results: a 6-aa addition allowed trimer formation, while a 27-aa addition did not. These trimer-defective mutants were also relatively less stable, as judged kV pulse-chase experiments. Taken together, our results indicate that trimerization of the fiber requires at least two domains, the entire head (aa 400 to 582), and at least the C-terminal-most 15 aa of the shaft.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Amyloid beta binds trimers as well as monomers of the 75-kDa neurotrophin receptor and activates receptor signaling.

p75(NTR), a nerve growth factor co-receptor that has been implicated in apoptosis of neurons, is structurally related to Fas and the receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha that display ligand independent assembly into trimers. Using embryonic day 17 fetal rat cortical neurons and p75(NTR)-expressing NIH-3T3 cells, we now show that p75(NTR) exists as a trimer as well as a monomer. Furthermore, we have reported and others have confirmed that amyloid beta binds p75(NTR), and that this binding leads to apoptotic cell death. We now report that amyloid beta binds to trimers of p75(NTR) as well as to p75(NTR) monomers but not to the p140(trkA), the nerve growth factor co-receptor that mediates neuronal survival. Furthermore, amyloid beta activates p75(NTR), strongly inducing the transcription of c-Jun mRNA and stimulating the stress-activated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, as measured by phosphorylation of its substrate (glutathione S-transferase-c-Jun-(1-79)). Our data suggest that p75(NTR) may be present as a preformed trimer that binds amyloid beta to induce receptor activation, and support the hypothesis that p75(NTR) activation by amyloid beta is causally related to Alzheimer's disease.

3T3 Cells↗

Crystal structures of the trimeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix protein: implications for membrane association and assembly.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) matrix protein forms a structural shell associated with the inner viral membrane and performs other essential functions throughout the viral life cycle. The crystal structure of the HIV-1 matrix protein, determined at 2.3 angstrom resolution, reveals that individual matrix molecules are composed of five major helices capped by a three-stranded mixed beta-sheet. Unexpectedly, the protein assembles into a trimer in three different crystal lattices, burying 1880 angstrom2 of accessible surface area at the trimer interfaces. Trimerization appears to create a large, bipartite membrane binding surface in which exposed basic residues could cooperate with the N-terminal myristoyl groups to anchor the protein on the acidic inner membrane of the virus.

Computer Simulation↗

Impaired multimerization of human adiponectin mutants associated with diabetes. Molecular structure and multimer formation of adiponectin.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone, which has been shown to play important roles in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Eight mutations in human adiponectin have been reported, some of which were significantly related to diabetes and hypoadiponectinemia, but the molecular mechanisms of decreased plasma levels and impaired action of adiponectin mutants were not clarified. Adiponectin structurally belongs to the complement 1q family and is known to form a characteristic homomultimer. Herein, we demonstrated that simple SDS-PAGE under non-reducing and non-heat-denaturing conditions clearly separates multimer species of adiponectin. Adiponectin in human or mouse serum and adiponectin expressed in NIH-3T3 or Escherichia coli formed a wide range of multimers from trimers to high molecular weight (HMW) multimers. A disulfide bond through an amino-terminal cysteine was required for the formation of multimers larger than a trimer. An amino-terminal Cys-Ser mutation, which could not form multimers larger than a trimer, abrogated the effect of adiponectin on the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway in hepatocytes. Among human adiponectin mutations, G84R and G90S mutants, which are associated with diabetes and hypoadiponectinemia, did not form HMW multimers. R112C and I164T mutants, which are associated with hypoadiponectinemia, did not assemble into trimers, resulting in impaired secretion from the cell. These data suggested impaired multimerization and/or the consequent impaired secretion to be among the causes of a diabetic phenotype or hypoadiponectinemia in subjects having these mutations. In conclusion, not only total concentrations, but also multimer distribution should always be considered in the interpretation of plasma adiponectin levels in health as well as various disease states.

3T3 Cells↗

The disulfide bonding pattern in ficolin multimers.

Ficolin is a plasma lectin, consisting of a short N-terminal multimerization domain, a middle collagen domain, and a C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain. The collagen domains assemble the subunits into trimers, and the N-terminal domain assembles four trimers into 12-mers. Two cysteine residues in the N-terminal domain are thought to mediate multimerization by disulfide bonding. We have generated three mutants of ficolin alpha in which the N-terminal cysteines were substituted by serines (Cys4, Cys24, and Cys4/Cys24). The N-terminal cysteine mutants were produced in a mammalian cell expression system, purified by affinity chromatography, and analyzed under nondenaturing conditions to resolve the multimer structure of the native protein and under denaturing conditions to resolve the disulfide-linked structure. Glycerol gradient sedimentation and electron microscopy in nondenaturing conditions showed that plasma and recombinant wild-type protein formed 12-mers. The Cys4 mutant also formed 12-mers, but Cys24 and Cys4/Cys24 mutants formed only trimers. This means that protein interfaces containing Cys4 are stable as noncovalent protein-protein interactions and do not require disulfides, whereas those containing Cys24-Cys24 require the disulfides for stability. Proteins were also analyzed by nonreducing SDS-PAGE to show the covalent structure under denaturing conditions. Wild-type ficolin was covalently linked into 12-mers, whereas elimination of either Cys4 or Cys24 gave dimers and monomers. We present a model in which symmetric Cys24-Cys24 disulfide bonds between trimers are the basis for multimerization. The model may also be relevant to collectin multimers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Trimeric structure of OprN and OprM efflux proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by 2D electron crystallography.

OprM and OprN belong to the outer membrane factor family of multidrug efflux proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium responsible of nosocomial infections. We report here the two-dimensional (2D) crystallization of OprN and OprM into lipid bilayers and the determination of their 2D projected structure by cryo-electron crystallography, at 1 and 1.4 nm, respectively. Both proteins present a dense ring of protein density, of approximately 7 nm diameter. An additional thin peripheral ring is resolved in OprN structure. Both proteins are assembled as trimers. The results presented here indicate a high structural homology between OprN (and OprM) and TolC, a multidrug efflux protein from Escherichia coli.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗