Proteins are naturally formed by domains edging their functional and structural properties. A domain out of the context of an entire protein can retain its structure and to some extent also function on its own. These properties rationalize construction of artificial fusion multidomain proteins with unique combination of various functions. Information on the specific functional and structural characteristics of individual domains in the context of new artificial fusion proteins is inevitably encoded in sequential order of composing domains defining their mutual spatial positions. So the challenges in designing new proteins with new domain combinations lie dominantly in structure/function prediction and its context dependency. Despite the enormous body of publications on artificial fusion proteins, the task of their structure/function prediction is complex and nontrivial. The degree of spatial freedom facilitated by a linker between domains and their mutual orientation driven by noncovalent interactions is beyond a simple and straightforward methodology to predict their structure with reasonable accuracy. In the presented manuscript, we tested methodology using available modeling tools and computational methods. We show that the process and methodology of such prediction are not straightforward and must be done with care even when recently introduced AlphaFold II is used. We also addressed a question of benchmarking standards for prediction of multidomain protein structures-x-ray or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance experiments. On the study of six two-domain protein chimeras as well as their composing domains and their x-ray structures selected from PDB, we conclude that the major obstacle for justified prediction is inappropriate sampling of the conformational space by the explored methods. On the other hands, we can still address particular steps of the methodology and improve the process of chimera proteins prediction.
A complex evaluation of agonist bias at G-protein coupled receptors at the level of G-protein classes and isoforms including non-preferential ones is essential for advanced agonist screening and drug development. Molecular crosstalk in downstream signaling and a lack of sufficiently sensitive and selective methods to study direct coupling with G-protein of interest complicates this analysis. We performed binding and functional analysis of 11 structurally different agonists on prepared fusion proteins of individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors and non-canonical promiscuous α-subunit of G16 protein to study agonist bias. We have demonstrated that fusion of muscarinic receptors with Gα16 limits access of other competitive Gα subunits to the receptor, and thus enables us to study activation of Gα16 mediated pathway more specifically. Our data demonstrated agonist-specific activation of G16 pathway among individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors and revealed signaling bias of oxotremorine towards Gα16 pathway at the M2 receptor and at the same time impaired Gα16 signaling of iperoxo at M5 receptors. Our data have shown that fusion proteins of muscarinic receptors with α-subunit of G-proteins can serve as a suitable tool for studying agonist bias, especially at non-preferential pathways.
- MeSH
- AMP cyklický metabolismus MeSH
- CHO buňky MeSH
- Cricetulus MeSH
- inhibiční koncentrace 50 MeSH
- isoxazoly chemie MeSH
- křečci praví MeSH
- kvartérní amoniové sloučeniny chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- molekulární konformace MeSH
- oxotremorin chemie MeSH
- proteiny vázající GTP - alfa-podjednotky Gq-G11 metabolismus MeSH
- receptory muskarinové metabolismus MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie MeSH
- signální transdukce * MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
- vazba proteinů MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- křečci praví MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Activation of the P2X7 receptor results in the opening of a large pore that plays a role in immune responses, apoptosis, and many other physiological and pathological processes. Here, we investigated the role of conserved and unique residues in the extracellular vestibule connecting the agonist-binding domain with the transmembrane domain of rat P2X7 receptor. We found that all residues that are conserved among the P2X receptor subtypes respond to alanine mutagenesis with an inhibition (Y51, Q52, and G323) or a significant decrease (K49, G326, K327, and F328) of 2',3'-O-(benzoyl-4-benzoyl)-ATP (BzATP)-induced current and permeability to ethidium bromide, while the nonconserved residue (F322), which is also present in P2X4 receptor, responds with a 10-fold higher sensitivity to BzATP, much slower deactivation kinetics, and a higher propensity to form the large dye-permeable pore. We examined the membrane expression of conserved mutants and found that Y51, Q52, G323, and F328 play a role in the trafficking of the receptor to the plasma membrane, while K49 controls receptor responsiveness to agonists. Finally, we studied the importance of the physicochemical properties of these residues and observed that the K49R, F322Y, F322W, and F322L mutants significantly reversed the receptor function, indicating that positively charged and large hydrophobic residues are important at positions 49 and 322, respectively. These results show that clusters of conserved residues above the transmembrane domain 1 (K49-Y51-Q52) and transmembrane domain 2 (G326-K327-F328) are important for receptor structure, membrane expression, and channel gating and that the nonconserved residue (F322) at the top of the extracellular vestibule is involved in hydrophobic inter-subunit interaction which stabilizes the closed state of the P2X7 receptor channel.
- MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- gating iontového kanálu MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- konzervovaná sekvence MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- luminescentní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- molekulární modely MeSH
- mutageneze cílená MeSH
- mutantní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteinové domény MeSH
- purinergní receptory P2X7 chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
- statická elektřina MeSH
- substituce aminokyselin MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Haloalkane dehalogenases (HLDs) convert halogenated aliphatic pollutants to less toxic compounds by a hydrolytic mechanism. Owing to their broad substrate specificity and high enantioselectivity, haloalkane dehalogenases can function as biosensors to detect toxic compounds in the environment or can be used for the production of optically pure compounds. Here, the structural analysis of the haloalkane dehalogenase DpcA isolated from the psychrophilic bacterium Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5 is presented at the atomic resolution of 1.05 Å. This enzyme exhibits a low temperature optimum, making it attractive for environmental applications such as biosensing at the subsurface environment, where the temperature typically does not exceed 25°C. The structure revealed that DpcA possesses the shortest access tunnel and one of the most widely open main tunnels among structural homologs of the HLD-I subfamily. Comparative analysis revealed major differences in the region of the α4 helix of the cap domain, which is one of the key determinants of the anatomy of the tunnels. The crystal structure of DpcA will contribute to better understanding of the structure-function relationships of cold-adapted enzymes.
- MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Escherichia coli genetika metabolismus MeSH
- exprese genu MeSH
- genetické vektory chemie metabolismus MeSH
- halogenované uhlovodíky chemie metabolismus MeSH
- hydrolasy chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
- klonování DNA MeSH
- konformace proteinů, alfa-helix MeSH
- konformace proteinů, beta-řetězec MeSH
- krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
- nízká teplota MeSH
- Psychrobacter chemie enzymologie MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- strukturní homologie proteinů MeSH
- substrátová specifita MeSH
- termodynamika MeSH
- vazba proteinů MeSH
- vazebná místa MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is located in both the nucleus and cytoplasm and has multiple biological functions including catalyzing the rate-limiting step in NAD synthesis. Moreover, up-regulated NAMPT expression has been observed in many cancers. However, the determinants and regulation of NAMPT's nuclear transport are not known. Here, we constructed a GFP-NAMPT fusion protein to study NAMPT's subcellular trafficking. We observed that in unsynchronized 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, 25% of cells had higher GFP-NAMPT fluorescence in the cytoplasm, and 62% had higher GFP-NAMPT fluorescence in the nucleus. In HepG2 hepatocytes, 6% of cells had higher GFP-NAMPT fluorescence in the cytoplasm, and 84% had higher GFP-NAMPT fluorescence in the nucleus. In both 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells, GFP-NAMPT was excluded from the nucleus immediately after mitosis and migrated back into it as the cell cycle progressed. In HepG2 cells, endogenous, untagged NAMPT displayed similar changes with the cell cycle, and in nonmitotic cells, GFP-NAMPT accumulated in the nucleus. Similarly, genotoxic, oxidative, or dicarbonyl stress also caused nuclear NAMPT localization. These interventions also increased poly(ADP-ribosyl) polymerase and sirtuin activity, suggesting an increased cellular demand for NAD. We identified a nuclear localization signal in NAMPT and amino acid substitution in this sequence (424RSKK to ASGA), which did not affect its enzymatic activity, blocked nuclear NAMPT transport, slowed cell growth, and increased histone H3 acetylation. These results suggest that NAMPT is transported into the nucleus where it presumably increases NAD synthesis required for cell proliferation. We conclude that specific inhibition of NAMPT transport into the nucleus might be a potential avenue for managing cancer.
- MeSH
- akrylamidy farmakologie MeSH
- aktivní transport - buněčné jádro MeSH
- buněčné jádro metabolismus MeSH
- buňky 3T3-L1 MeSH
- buňky Hep G2 MeSH
- cytoplazma metabolismus MeSH
- histony metabolismus MeSH
- kontrolní body buněčného cyklu MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutageneze cílená MeSH
- myši MeSH
- NAD metabolismus MeSH
- nikotinamidfosforibosyltransferasa chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- oxidační stres MeSH
- piperidiny farmakologie MeSH
- poly(ADP-ribosa)-polymerasy metabolismus MeSH
- proliferace buněk MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sirtuiny metabolismus MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The peptide LL-37, a component of the human innate immune system, represents a promising drug candidate. In particular, the development of low-cost production platform technology is a critical bottleneck in its use in medicine. In the present study, a viable approach for the LL-37 production in transgenic barley is developed. First, comparative analyses of the effects of different fused peptide epitope tags applicable for accumulation and purification on LL-37 production yield are performed using transient expression in tobacco leaves. Following the selection of the most yielding fusion peptide strategies, eight different constructs for the expression of codon optimized chimeric LL-37 genes in transgenic barley plants are created. The expression of individual constructs is driven either by an endosperm-specific promoter of the barley B1 hordein gene or by the maize ubiquitin promoter. The transgenes are stably integrated into the barley genome and inherited in the subsequent generation. All transgenic lines show normal phenotypes and are fertile. LL-37 accumulated in the barley seeds up to 0.55 mg per 1 kg of grain. The fused epitope tags are cleaved off by the use of enterokinase. Furthermore, in planta produced LL-37 including the fused versions is biologically active.
- MeSH
- geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- ječmen (rod) genetika metabolismus MeSH
- kathelicidiny chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- molekulární farmaření metody MeSH
- promotorové oblasti (genetika) genetika MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
MS2 phage-like particles (MS2 PLP) are artificially constructed pseudo-viral particles derived from bacteriophage MS2. They are able to carry a specific single stranded RNA (ssRNA) sequence of choice inside their capsid, thus protecting it against the effects of ubiquitous nucleases. Such particles are able to mimic ssRNA viruses and, thus, may serve as the process control for molecular detection and quantification of such agents in several kinds of matrices, vaccines and vaccine candidates, drug delivery systems, and systems for the display of immunologically active peptides or nanomachines. Currently, there are several different in vivo plasmid-driven packaging systems for production of MS2 PLP. In order to combine all the advantages of the available systems and to upgrade and simplify the production and purification of MS2 PLP, a one-plasmid double-expression His-tag system was designed. The described system utilizes a unique fusion insertional mutation enabling purification of particles using His-tag affinity. Using this new production system, highly pure MS2 PLP can be quickly produced and purified by a fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) approach. The system can be easily adapted to produce other MS2 PLP with different properties.
- MeSH
- Levivirus * chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- plazmidy * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny * biosyntéza chemie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- virion * chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- virové plášťové proteiny * biosyntéza chemie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Cell reprogramming requires efficient delivery of reprogramming transcription factors into the cell nucleus. Here, we compared the robustness and workload of two protein delivery methods that avoid the risk of genomic integration. The first method is based on fusion of the protein of interest to a protein transduction domain (PTD) for delivery across the membranes of target cells. The second method relies on de novo synthesis of the protein of interest inside the target cells utilizing synthetic mRNA (syn-mRNA) as a template. We established a Cre/lox reporter system in three different cell types derived from human (PANC-1, HEK293) and rat (BRIN-BD11) tissues and used Cre recombinase to model a protein of interest. The system allowed constitutive expression of red fluorescence protein (RFP), while green fluorescence protein (GFP) was expressed only after the genomic action of Cre recombinase. The efficiency of protein delivery into cell nuclei was quantified as the frequency of GFP+ cells in the total cell number. The PTD method showed good efficiency only in BRIN-BD11 cells (68%), whereas it failed in PANC-1 and HEK293 cells. By contrast, the syn-mRNA method was highly effective in all three cell types (29-71%). We conclude that using synthetic mRNA is a more robust and less labor-intensive approach than using the PTD-fusion alternative.
- MeSH
- buněčné jádro metabolismus MeSH
- buněčné klony MeSH
- DNA metabolismus MeSH
- genetické inženýrství MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- integrasy metabolismus MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- messenger RNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteinové domény MeSH
- průtoková cytometrie MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie metabolismus MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- technika přenosu genů * MeSH
- zelené fluorescenční proteiny metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The yeast Nha1p Na(+), K(+)/H(+) antiporter has a house-keeping role in pH and cation homeostasis. It is also needed to alleviate excess Na(+) or K(+) from the cytoplasm under high external concentrations of these cations. Erv14p, a putative cargo receptor for transmembrane proteins is required for trafficking of Nha1p from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane. Sensitivity to high Na(+) concentrations of the erv14 mutant associated to the intracellular mislocalization of Nha1p-GFP, together with a lower Na(+) efflux, indicate the involvement of this mutual association to accomplish the survival of the yeast cell upon sodium stress. This observation is supported by the protein-protein interaction between Erv14p and Nha1p detected by the mating-based Split Ubiquitin System and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Our results indicate that even though Erv14p interacts with Nha1p through the TMD, the C-terminal is important not only for the efficient delivery of Nha1p to the plasma membrane but also for its dimerization to accomplish its role in yeast salt tolerance.
- MeSH
- biologický transport MeSH
- chlorid sodný metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- draslík metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
- kationty jednomocné MeSH
- membránové proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- multimerizace proteinu MeSH
- Na(+)-H(+) antiport chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny přenášející kationty chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- protony * MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u hub * MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae účinky léků genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sekundární struktura proteinů MeSH
- tolerance k soli MeSH
- vazba proteinů MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The HsdR subunit of the type I restriction-modification system EcoR124I is responsible for the translocation as well as the restriction activity of the whole complex consisting of the HsdR, HsdM and HsdS subunits, and while crystal structures are available for the wild type and several mutants, the C-terminal domain comprising approximately 150 residues was not resolved in any of these structures. Here, three fusion constructs with the GFP variant pHluorin developed to overexpress, purify and crystallize the C-terminal domain of HsdR are reported. The shortest of the three encompassed HsdR residues 887-1038 and yielded crystals that belonged to the orthorhombic space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 83.42, b = 176.58, c = 126.03 Å, α = β = γ = 90.00° and two molecules in the asymmetric unit (VM = 2.55 Å(3) Da(-1), solvent content 50.47%). X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.45 Å.
- MeSH
- difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
- Escherichia coli chemie enzymologie genetika MeSH
- exprese genu MeSH
- klonování DNA MeSH
- krystalizace MeSH
- krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
- plazmidy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- podjednotky proteinů chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny z Escherichia coli chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- restrikční endonukleasy typu I chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
- zelené fluorescenční proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH