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YidC is strictly required for membrane insertion of subunits a and c of the F(1)F(0)ATP synthase and SecE of the SecYEG translocase.

YidC was previously discovered to play a critical role for the insertion of the Sec-independent M13 procoat and Pf3 coat phage proteins into the Escherichia coli inner membrane. To determine whether there is an absolute requirement of YidC for membrane protein insertion of any endogenous E. coli proteins, we investigated a few representative membrane proteins. We found that membrane subunits of the F(0) sector of the F(1)F(0)ATP synthase and the SecE protein of the SecYEG translocase are highly dependent on YidC for membrane insertion, based on protease mapping and immunoblot analysis. We found that the SecE dependency on YidC for membrane insertion does not contradict the observation that depletion of YidC does not block SecYEG-dependent protein export at 37 degrees C. YidC depletion does not decrease the SecE level low enough to block export at 37 degrees C. In contrast, we found that protein export of OmpA is severely blocked at 25 degrees C when YidC is depleted, which may be due to the decreased SecE level, as a 50% decrease in the SecE levels drastically affects protein export at the cold temperature [Schatz, P. J., Bieker, K. L., Ottemann, K. M., Silhavy, T. J., and Beckwith, J. (1991) EMBO J. 10, 1749-57]. These studies reported here establish that physiological substrates of YidC include subunits of the ATP synthase and the SecYEG translocase, demonstrating that YidC plays a vital role for insertion of endogenous membrane proteins in bacteria.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Membrane-insertion fragments of Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bid.

Apoptosis regulators of the Bcl-2 family associate with intracellular membranes from mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, where they perform their function. The activity of these proteins is related to the release of apoptogenic factors, sequestered in the mitochondria, to the cytoplasm, probably through the formation of ion and/or protein transport channels. Most of these proteins contain a C-terminal putative transmembrane (TM) fragment and a pair of hydrophobic alpha helices (alpha5-alpha6) similar to the membrane insertion fragments of the ion-channel domain of diphtheria toxin and colicins. Here, we report on the membrane-insertion properties of different segments from antiapoptotic Bcl-x(L) and proapoptotic Bax and Bid, that correspond to defined alpha helices in the structure of their soluble forms. According to prediction methods, there are only two putative TM fragments in Bcl-x(L) and Bax (the C-terminal alpha helix and alpha-helix 5) and one in activated tBid (alpha-helix 6). The rest of their sequence, including the second helix of the pore-forming domain, displays only weak hydrophobic peaks, which are below the prediction threshold. Subsequent analysis by glycosylation mapping of single alpha-helix segments in a model chimeric system confirms the above predictions and allows finding an extra TM fragment made of helix alpha1 of Bax. Surprisingly, the amphipathic helices alpha6 of Bcl-x(L) and Bax and alpha7 of Bid do insert in membranes only as part of the alpha5-alpha6 (Bcl-x(L) and Bax) or alpha6-alpha7 (Bid) hairpins but not when assayed individually. This behavior suggests a synergistic insertion and folding of the two helices of the hairpin that could be due to charge complementarity and additional stability provided by turn-inducing residues present at the interhelical region. Although these data come from chimeric systems, they show direct potentiality for acquiring a membrane inserted state. Thus, the above fragments should be considered for the definition of plausible models of the active, membrane-bound species of Bcl-2 proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chaperoning of insertion of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers by hemifluorinated surfactants: application to diphtheria toxin.

Hemifluorinated compounds, such as HF-TAC, make up a novel class of nondetergent surfactants designed to keep membrane proteins soluble under nondissociating conditions [Breyton, C., et al. (2004) FEBS Lett. 564, 312]. Because fluorinated and hydrogenated chains do not mix well, supramicellar concentrations of these surfactants can coexist with intact lipid vesicles. To test the ability of HF-TAC to assist proper membrane insertion of proteins, we examined its effect on the pH-triggered insertion of the diphtheria toxin T-domain. The function of the T-domain is to translocate the catalytic domain across the lipid bilayer in response to acidification of the endosome. This translocation is accompanied by the formation of a pore, which we used as a measure of activity in a vesicle leakage assay. We have also used Förster resonance energy transfer to follow the effect of HF-TAC on aggregation of aqueous and membrane-bound T-domain. Our data indicate that the pore-forming activity of the T-domain is affected by the dynamic interplay of two principal processes: productive pH-triggered membrane insertion and nonproductive aggregation of the aqueous T-domain at low pH. The presence of HF-TAC in the buffer is demonstrated to suppress aggregation in solution and ensure correct insertion and folding of the T-domain into the lipid vesicles, without solubilizing the latter. Thus, hemifluorinated surfactants stabilize the low-pH conformation of the T-domain as a water-soluble monomer while acting as low-molecular weight chaperones for its insertion into preformed lipid bilayers.

Diphtheria Toxin↗

Folding and membrane insertion of the trimeric beta-barrel protein OmpF.

We have studied folding and membrane insertion of the porin OmpF and compared it to OmpA. Both are beta-barrel membrane proteins from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, OmpF forming trimers and OmpA monomers. Each of them can be unfolded in solubilized form in a water/urea mixture. Refolding is initiated by dilution into a dispersion of lipid vesicles or lipid/detergent vesicles, whereupon OmpF and OmpA refold and insert into the membranes. Folding and insertion of the monomers proceed in a similar way for the two proteins, but native OmpF appears more slowly and with a lower yield than native OmpA because of trimerization of OmpF. The dependence of the yield of refolding, membrane insertion, and trimerization on pH, lipid concentration, and the presence of detergent was investigated. Trimerization of OmpF is shown to take place at or in the membrane and a membrane-inserted dimer is detected as an intermediate of this process.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

Identification of an epitope in antithrombin appearing on insertion of the reactive-bond loop into the A beta-sheet.

Previous work has shown that insertion of the reactive-bond loop of antithrombin into the main beta-sheet of the inhibitor, the A sheet, leads to exposure of epitopes that are not present in intact antithrombin. Identical epitopes are exposed in antithrombin-proteinase complexes, inferring that the reactive-bond loop is inserted into the A beta-sheet also in these complexes. Loop insertion thus presumably is involved in the mechanism of inhibition of target proteinases. In this work, we have identified a linear epitope in bovine antithrombin that reacts with antibodies specific for loop-inserted forms of the inhibitor. This epitope is a hexapeptide sequence comprising residues 342-347, Glu-Asp-Leu-Phe-Ser-Pro, and is located on the surface of the protein just carboxy-terminal of helix I. The Phe residue of this epitope is highly conserved in members of the serpin superfamily and appears to stabilize the region of the epitope in antithrombin and other serpins by interacting with the protein core. The conformational change involving expansion of the A beta-sheet following insertion of the reactive-bond loop is presumably transmitted through this Phe residue to the epitope region, thereby rendering this region accessible to antibodies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Escherichia coli diacylglycerol kinase is an alpha-helical polytopic membrane protein and can spontaneously insert into preformed lipid vesicles.

Escherichia coli diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK) is a 13.2 kDa enzyme which spans the cytoplasmic membrane three times. Functional DAGK was purified to homogeneity using a polyhistidine tag and Ni(II)-chelate chromatography. Transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of DAGK in phosphatidylcholine multilayers led to the conclusion that > or = 90 of DAGK's native 121 residues are alpha-helical, consistent with a model in which DAGK consists of two amphipathic alpha-helices and three transmembrane helices. Polarized attenuated total reflection FT-IR studies of DAGK in oriented multilamellae yielded data consistent with a topological arrangement in which the three transmembrane helices are well-aligned with the bilayer normal while the two amphipathic helices are approximately parallel with the membrane plane. The ability of DAGK to spontaneously insert into preformed lipid vesicles was examined using a novel assay system involving DAGK-catalyzed phosphorylation of a fluorescently tagged diacylglycerol. When micellar DAGK is diluted into L alpha-phase vesicles spontaneous insertion of the enzyme is fairly efficient (ca. 30%). DAGK refolding and insertion from delipidated urea-solubilized DAGK into lipid vesicles is also modestly efficient (3.8 +/- 2.1%) above the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition temperature. The insertion studies indicate that the difference in energy barriers (delta delta G++) between pathways leading to catalytically productive folding and insertion of DAGK relative to unproductive pathways is < 4 kcal/mol. However, additional studies carried out with mutant forms of DAGK indicated that the differences between refolding/insertion pathways for DAGK in vivo and in vitro can be significant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epitope insertion favors a six transmembrane domain model for the carboxy-terminal portion of the multidrug resistance-associated protein.

The overexpression of the multidrug resistance protein, MRP, in mammalian cells is associated with pleiotropic resistance to cytotoxic drugs. MRP is an integral membrane protein which belongs to the family of ATP-binding cassette transporters. Secondary structure predictions combined with biochemical analyses suggest that MRP encodes 11 transmembrane (TM) domains in the amino-terminal half of the protein and four or six transmembrane domains in the carboxy-terminal half of the protein. To gain insight into the membrane topology of the carboxy-terminal half of MRP, small, antigenic hemagglutinin (HA) epitopes (YPYDVPDYAS) were inserted within six predicted hydrophilic subfragments of this region (938, 1001, 1084, 1175, 1222, 1295). These epitope-tagged MRP variants were expressed in HeLa cells to evaluate their ability to confer resistance to the drug etoposide (VP-16). Insertion of the HA epitopes at positions 938, 1001, and 1222 resulted in functional proteins, while epitope insertion at positions 1084, 1175, and 1295 abrogated MRP function. The intracellular versus extracellular location of the HA epitopes present in biologically active MRP variants was then established in intact and permeabilized cells by immunofluorescence using an anti-HA antibody. Epitopes inserted at positions 1001 and 1222 were located on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane, while the epitope inserted at position 938 was located intracellularly. These results are consistent with a six TM rather than a four TM domain model for the membrane portion of the carboxy-terminal half of MRP.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Folding of apocytochrome c in lipid micelles: formation of alpha-helix precedes membrane insertion.

Apocytochrome c, which in aqueous solution is largely unstructured, acquires a highly alpha-helical structure upon interaction with lipid. The alpha-helix content induced in apocytochrome c depends on the lipid system, and this folding process is driven by both electrostatic and hydrophobic lipid-protein interactions. The folding kinetic mechanism of apocytochrome c induced by zwitterionic micelles of lysophosphatidylcholine (L-PC), predominantly driven by hydrophobic lipid-protein interactions, was investigated by fluorescence stopped-flow measurements of Trp 59 and fluorescein-phosphatidylethanolamine-(FPE) labeled micelles, in combination with stopped-flow far-UV circular dichroism. It was found that formation of the alpha-helical structure of apocytochrome c precedes membrane insertion. The unfolded state in solution (U(W)) binds to the micelle surface in a helical conformation (I(S)) and is followed by insertion into the lipid micelle, i.e., formation of the final helical state H(L). Binding of apocytochrome c to the lipid micelle (U(W) --> I(S)) is concurrent with formation of a large fraction (75-100%, depending on lipid concentration) of the alpha-helical structure of the final lipid-inserted state H(L). The highly helical intermediate I(S) is formed on the time scale of 3-12 ms, depending on lipid concentration, and inserts into the lipid micelle (I(S) --> H(L)) in the time range of approximately 200 ms to >1 s, depending on lipid-to-protein ratio. The final lipid-inserted helical state H(L) in L-PC micelles has an alpha-helix content approximately 65% of that of cytochrome c in solution and has no compact stable tertiary structure as revealed by circular dichroism results.

Animals↗

Predominant 1,2-insertion of styrene in the Pd-catalyzed alternating copolymerization with carbon monoxide.

The regioselectivity of styrene insertion to an acyl-Pd bond was studied by NMR in (i) a stoichiomeric reaction and (ii) a copolymerization with CO. In the stoichiometric reaction of styrene with [(CH(3)CO)Pd(CH(3)CN)[(R,S)-BINAPHOS]].[B[3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3)](4)], both 1,2- and 2,1-products were given. To mimic the real polymerization conditions, a polyketone-substituted complex [[CH(3)(CH(2)CHCH(3)CO)(n)]Pd[(R,S)-BINAPHOS]].[B(3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3))(4)] (n approximately 14) was prepared. When this polymer-attached Pd species was treated with styrene, the 1,2-insertion product was the only detectable species. Thus, exclusive 1,2-insertion is demonstrated to be responsible for the styrene-CO copolymerization, in sharp contrast to the predominant 2,1-insertion with conventional nitrogen ligands. Chain-end analysis revealed that beta-hydride elimination took place from the 2,1-complex but not from the 1,2-complex. Thus, once 2,1-insertion occurs, rapid beta-hydride elimination proceeds to terminate the polymerization, as is common to the other phosphorus-ligand systems. The resulting Pd-H species re-initiates the copolymerization, as was proven by MALDI-TOF mass analysis of the product copolymers.

Journal Article↗

Direct observation of aldehyde insertion into rhodium-aryl and -alkoxide complexes.

Several organorhodium(I) complexes of the general formula (PPh(3))(2)(CO)RhR (R = p-tolyl, o-tolyl, Me) were isolated and were shown to insert aryl aldehydes into the aryl-rhodium(I) bond. Under nonaqueous conditions, these reactions provided ketones in good yield. The stability of the arylrhodium(I) complexes allowed these reactions to be run also in mixtures of THF and water. In this solvent system, diarylmethanols were generated exclusively. Mechanistic studies support the formation of ketone and diarylmethanol by insertion of aldehyde into the rhodium-aryl bond and subsequent beta-hydride elimination or hydrolysis to form diaryl ketone or diarylmethanol products. Kinetic isotope effects and the formation of diarylmethanols in THF/water mixtures are inconsistent with oxidative addition of the acyl carbon-hydrogen bond and reductive elimination to form ketone. Moreover, the intermediate rhodium diarylmethoxide formed from insertion of aldehyde was observed directly during the reaction. Its structure was confirmed by independent synthesis. This complex undergoes beta-hydrogen elimination to form a ketone. This alkoxide also reacts with a second aldehyde to form esters by insertion and subsequent beta-hydrogen elimination. Thus, reactions of arylrhodium complexes with an excess of aldehyde formed esters by a double insertion and beta-hydrogen elimination sequence.

Journal Article↗

Insertion of acrylonitrile into palladium methyl bonds in neutral and anionic Pd(II) complexes.

The reactions of a series of Pd(II) methyl compounds of general formula LPd(NCCH(3))CH(3), where L is a bulky phenoxydiazene or phenoxyaldimine ligand with the polar olefin acrylonitrile (AN), are reported. The compounds react with an excess of AN to give the products of 2,1 insertion into the Pd-Me bond, yielding dimers and/or trimers which feature bridging alpha-cyano groups. The reactions were studied by low temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy, revealing an initial formation of compounds featuring N-bound AN, which isomerized to an (unobserved) pi-bound species that rapidly underwent 2,1 insertion into the Pd-Me bond. Intermediate oligomeric complexes retaining a Pd-Me function were observed at low [AN] in these reactions. Under pseudo first-order conditions, k(obs) values of 8.5 x 10(-5) to 2.68 x 10(-3) M(-1) (-22 degrees C to 10 degrees C, 100 equiv of AN) and activation parameters of DeltaH++ = 14.4(5) kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS++ = -19(5) eu were obtained in one case. Comparison of the overall rates of insertion between two LPd(NCCH(3))CH(3), differing in the overall charge on the supporting ligand L, showed that the complex bearing a negatively charged ligand reacts with AN twice as fast as one with no anionic charge. The rates of insertion in both of these complexes are significantly faster than reported rates for analogous reactions in cationic Pd(II) derivatives, indicating that increasing the negative charge on the complex enhances the rate of AN insertion. These results provide fundamental mechanistic insights into a crucial reaction for incorporation of polar comonomers into alpha olefins via a coordination polymerization mechanism.

Journal Article↗

A spectroscopic investigation of carbon-carbon bond formation by methylene insertion on a Ag(111) surface: mechanism and kinetics.

Using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS), we have investigated the cross-coupling reaction between CH(2)(a) and CF(3)(a) on a Ag(111) surface. CH(2)(a) and CF(3)(a) are generated by thermal decomposition of adsorbed CH(2)I(2) and CF(3)I. RAIRS results unambiguously demonstrate that CH(2)(a) inserts into the Ag-CF(3) bond to produce adsorbed CF(3)CH(2)(a), which upon heating selectively undergoes beta-fluorine elimination to form CH(2)=CF(2). Increasing the CH(2)(a) and CF(3)(a) coverage leads to the sequential insertion of CH(2)(a) into Ag-CF(3), as evidenced by CH(2)CH(2)CF(3)(a) formation detected with RAIRS. Prior to the insertion reaction, the evidence favors islanding of fragments. The methylene insertion reaction is so facile that it occurs at cryogenic temperatures (120 K). Time-resolved RAIRS (TR-RAIRS) results at selected temperatures reveal an activation energy of 5.8 kJ/mol. Our results provide, for the first time, direct spectroscopic information about the mechanism and kinetics of the methylene insertion reaction.

Journal Article↗

Amphiphilic poly(phenyleneethynylene)s can mimic antimicrobial peptide membrane disordering effect by membrane insertion.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of peptides that are innate to various organisms and function as a defense agent against harmful microorganisms by means of membrane disordering. Characteristic chemical and structural properties of AMPs allow selective interaction and subsequent disruption of invaders' cell membranes. Polymers based on m-phenylene ethynylenes (mPE) were designed and synthesized to mimic the amphiphilic, cationic, and rigid structure of AMPs and were found to be good mimics of AMPs in terms of their high potency toward microbes and low hemolytic activities. Using a Langmuir monolayer insertion assay, two mPEs are found to readily insert into anionic model bacterial membranes but to differ in the degree of selectivity between bacterial and mammalian erythrocyte model membranes. Comparison of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) data before and after the insertion of mPE clearly indicates that the insertion of mPE disrupts lipid packing, altering the tilt of the lipid tail. X-ray reflectivity (XR) measurements of the lipid/mPE system demonstrate that mPE molecules insert through the headgroup region and partially into the tail group region, thus accounting for the observed disordering of tail packing. This study demonstrates that mPEs can mimic AMP's membrane disordering.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Control of competing N-H insertion and Wolff rearrangement in dirhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions of 3-indolyl diazoketoesters. synthesis of a potential precursor to the marine 5-(3-indolyl)oxazole martefragin A.

Dirhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction of 3-indolyl alpha-diazo-beta-ketoester 25 in the presence of hexanamide results in competing metal carbene N-H insertion and Wolff rearrangement. The corresponding phenyl diazoketoester 32, on the other hand, gives only the product of N-H insertion, suggesting that the indole moiety is more prone to 1,2-rearrangement. The competing processes were investigated in a range of 3-indolyl alpha-diazo-beta-ketoesters (36, 38, 40, 44); these studies established that the Wolff rearrangement could be effectively suppressed by the presence of a strong electron-withdrawing group on the indole nitrogen. Dirhodium(II) catalysts were also more effective than copper or Lewis acid catalysts in favoring the insertion process. The products of N-H insertion, the ketoamides (26, 47, 49, 51, 53), were readily cyclodehydrated to the corresponding 5-(3-indolyl)oxazoles. The N-H insertion/cyclodehydration methodology was used in a formal synthesis of the marine natural product martefragin A. Thus the N-Boc homoisoleucine amide 23, prepared by asymmetric hydrogenation of a dehydro amino acid, underwent N-H insertion with the rhodium carbene derived from the N-nosyl indolyl diazoester 40, followed by cyclodehydration and deprotection to give the 5-(3-indolyl)oxazole martefragin A precursor 75.

Alkaloids↗

Insertion reactions of silylenoid Ph2SiLi(OBu-t) into X-H bonds (X = F, OH, and NH2).

The insertion reactions of silylenoid [(tert-butoxy)diphenylsilyl]lithium Ph(2)SiLi(OBu-t) into HF, H(2)O, and NH(3) molecules have been studied by using density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. To better understand the reactivity of silylenoid Ph(2)SiLi(OBu-t), its two most stable isomers, the p-complex (1) and the three-membered ring (2), were selected for reactants. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has been performed to study the effects of charge transfer and to understand the nature of different interactions between atoms or groups. The results indicate that (i) the insertion of Ph(2)SiLi(OBu-t) into X-H bond proceeds in a concerted manner via a three-membered-ring transition state to form substituted silane Ph(2)SiHX with dissociation of LiOBu-t; (ii) the activation barrier increases in the order of HF < H(2)O < NH(3), and the barrier heights of the 1 insertions are higher than those of the 2 insertions, respectively; (iii) both 1 and 2 display ambiphilic character in their insertion reactions.

Journal Article↗

Safety of intrauterine device insertion by trained nurse-midwives in the Sudan.

Insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs) by trained health workers other than physicians is increasing, particularly in developing countries. Twenty nurse-midwives in government service in the Sudan, called health visitors (HVs), were trained to provide intrauterine contraceptives in a research project designed to evaluate the safety of insertion of IUDs by medical personnel who are not physicians. After training, they inserted 763 IUDs. Independent evaluation of 520 clients was conducted by gynecologists who found that only six devices (1.2%) had been incorrectly inserted. Outcomes for clients of the health visitors, with respect to perforations, infections, expulsions, and pregnancies, compared well with those of eight physicians who participated in the study. The research strongly supports the concept of nurse-midwife training for IUD insertion. This would greatly expand the availability of family planning services and would conserve physician time and skills for problem cases.

Consumer Product Safety↗

Microneedle insertion force reduction using vibratory actuation.

The effect of vibratory actuation on microneedle insertion force was investigated. Hollow micro hypodermic injection needles were fabricated by a two-wafer polysilicon micromolding process. A vibratory actuator operating in the kHz range was coupled with the hypodermic microneedles. The force to insert microneedles into excized animal tissue was measured with a load cell. Results showed a greater than 70% reduction in microneedle insertion force by using vibratory actuation. The application of vibratory actuation provides a promising method to precisely control the microneedle insertion forces to overcome microneedle structural material limitations, minimize insertion pain, and enhance the efficiency of drug delivery.

Drug Delivery Systems↗

Critical segment of apocytochrome c for its insertion into membrane.

Apocytochrome c has a potent ability to insert spontaneously into membrane. To identify which sequences were critical for this insertion activity, a series of peptides N19, C8, C15 and C21, corresponding to sequences 1-19, 81-88, 74-88 and 68-88 of apocytochrome c, respectively, were synthesized and purified. Insertion ability into phospholipid monolayer, intrinsic fluorescence emission spectra, and the accessibility of peptide C21 to fluorescence quenchers: KI, acrylamide and HB showed that only segment 68-88 could insert into membrane, while other segments did not. CD spectra demonstrated that its interaction with liposomes containing negatively charged phospholipid could induce a partial alpha-helical conformation in peptide C21. It is interesting to note that a cooperation exists between segment 68-88 and 1-19 in the insertion of apocytochrome c and consequently translocation across membrane.

Animals↗