Can we identify the forces that drive the folding of integral membrane proteins?

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Booth ◽  
R. H. Templer ◽  
A. R. Curran ◽  
S. J. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Generic Properties ◽  
Membrane Bilayer ◽  
Rate Limiting

Protein folding has been at the forefront of molecular cell biology research for several years. However, integral membrane proteins have eluded detailed molecular level study until recently. One reason is the often apparently insurmountable problem of mimicking the natural membrane bilayer with lipid or detergent mixtures. There is nevertheless a large body of information on lipid properties and in particular on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine lipids, which are common to many biological membranes. We have exploited this knowledge to design efficient in vitro, lipid-bilayer folding systems for membrane proteins. Bacteriorhodopsin has been used as a model system for our initial studies: we have shown that a rate-limiting apoprotein folding step and the overall folding efficiency seem to be controlled by particular properties of the lipid bilayer. The properties of interest are the stored curvature elastic energy within the bilayer and the lateral pressure that the lipid chains exert on their neighbouring folding protein. These are generic properties of the bilayer that can be achieved with simple mixtures of many types of biological lipid and seem to be important in vivo.

Manipulating the folding of membrane proteins: using the bilayer to our advantage

2001 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula J. Booth ◽  
A. Rachael Curran ◽  
Richard H. Templer ◽  
Hui Lu ◽  
Wim Meijberg
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Generic Properties ◽  
Membrane Bilayer ◽  
Rate Limiting ◽  
Shed Light

The folding mechanisms of integral membrane proteins have largely eluded detailed study. This is owing to the inherent difficulties in folding these hydrophobic proteins in vitro, which, in turn, reflects the often apparently insurmountable problem of mimicking the natural membrane bilayer with lipid or detergent mixtures. There is, however, a large body of information on lipid properties and, in particular, on phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine lipids, which are common to many biological membranes. We have exploited this knowledge to develop efficient in vitro lipid-bilayer folding systems for the membrane protein, bacteriorhodopsin. Furthermore, we have shown that a rate-limiting apoprotein folding step and the overall folding efficiency appear to be controlled by particular properties of the lipid bilayer. The properties of interest are the stored curvature elastic energy within the bilayer, and the lateral pressure that the lipid chains exert on the their neighbouring folding proteins. These are generic properties of the bilayer that can be achieved with simple mixtures of biological lipids, and are not specific to the lipids studied here. These bilayer properties also seem to be important in modulating the function of several membrane proteins, as well as the function of membranes in vivo. Thus, it seems likely that careful manipulations of lipid properties will shed light on the forces that drive membrane protein folding, and will aid the development of bilayer folding systems for other membrane proteins.

scholarly journals YidC Occupies the Lateral Gate of the SecYEG Translocon and Is Sequentially Displaced by a Nascent Membrane Protein

2013 ◽  
Vol 288 (23) ◽  
pp. 16295-16307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilie Sachelaru ◽  
Narcis Adrian Petriman ◽  
Renuka Kudva ◽  
Patrick Kuhn ◽  
Thomas Welte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Transmembrane Domains ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Lipid Phase ◽  
Lipid Transfer ◽  
Lateral Gate

Most membrane proteins are co-translationally inserted into the lipid bilayer via the universally conserved SecY complex and they access the lipid phase presumably via a lateral gate in SecY. In bacteria, the lipid transfer of membrane proteins from the SecY channel is assisted by the SecY-associated protein YidC, but details on the SecY-YidC interaction are unknown. By employing an in vivo and in vitro site-directed cross-linking approach, we have mapped the SecY-YidC interface and found YidC in contact with all four transmembrane domains of the lateral gate. This interaction did not require the SecDFYajC complex and was not influenced by SecA binding to SecY. In contrast, ribosomes dissociated the YidC contacts to lateral gate helices 2b and 8. The major contact between YidC and the lateral gate was lost in the presence of ribosome nascent chains and new SecY-YidC contacts appeared. These data demonstrate that the SecY-YidC interaction is influenced by nascent-membrane-induced lateral gate movements.

scholarly journals Interplay between MPIase, YidC, and PMF during Sec-independent insertion of membrane proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e202101162
Author(s):  
Yuta Endo ◽  
Yuko Shimizu ◽  
Hanako Nishikawa ◽  
Katsuhiro Sawasato ◽  
Ken-ichi Nishiyama
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
The Other ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Model Protein

Integral membrane proteins with the N-out topology are inserted into membranes usually in YidC- and PMF-dependent manners. The molecular basis of the various dependencies on insertion factors is not fully understood. A model protein, Pf3-Lep, is inserted independently of both YidC and PMF, whereas the V15D mutant requires both YidC and PMF in vivo. We analyzed the mechanisms that determine the insertion factor dependency in vitro. Glycolipid MPIase was required for insertion of both proteins because MPIase depletion caused a significant defect in insertion. On the other hand, YidC depletion and PMF dissipation had no effects on Pf3-Lep insertion, whereas V15D insertion was reduced. We reconstituted (proteo)liposomes containing MPIase, YidC, and/or F0F1-ATPase. MPIase was essential for insertion of both proteins. YidC and PMF stimulated Pf3-Lep insertion as the synthesis level increased. V15D insertion was stimulated by both YidC and PMF irrespective of the synthesis level. These results indicate that charges in the N-terminal region and the synthesis level are the determinants of YidC and PMF dependencies with the interplay between MPIase, YidC, and PMF.

scholarly journals Plasmalemmal proteins of cultured vascular endothelial cells exhibit apical-basal polarity: analysis by surface-selective iodination.

1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
pp. 2389-2402 ◽  
Author(s):  
W A Muller ◽  
M A Gimbrone
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Cellular Polarity ◽  
Differential Distribution ◽  
Endothelial Monolayers ◽  
Apical Side

Vascular endothelium in vivo appears to function as a polarized epithelium. To determine whether cellular polarity exists at the level of the plasma membrane, we have examined cultured endothelial monolayers for evidence of differential distribution of externally disposed plasmalemmal proteins at apical and basal cell surfaces. Lactoperoxidase beads were used to selectively label the apical surfaces of confluent endothelial monolayers, the total surfaces of nonenzymatically resuspended cells, and the basal surfaces of monolayers inverted on poly-L-lysine-coated coverslips, while maintaining greater than 98% viability in all samples. Comparison of the SDS PAGE radioiodination patterns obtained for each surface revealed a number of specific bands markedly enriched on either apical or basal surface. This polarized distribution involved membrane-associated as well as integral membrane proteins and was observed in several strains of bovine aortic endothelial cells, as well as in both primary and passaged human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In contrast, two morphologically nonpolarized cell types, bovine aortic smooth muscle and mouse peritoneal macrophages, did not display differential localization of integral membrane proteins. Polarized distribution of integral membrane proteins was established before the formation of a confluent monolayer. When inverted (basal-side-up) monolayers were returned to culture, the apical-side-up pattern was reexpressed within a few days. These results demonstrate that cell surface-selective expression of plasmalemmal proteins is an intrinsic property of viable endothelial cells in vitro. This apical/basal asymmetry of membrane structure may provide a basis for polarized endothelial functions in vivo.

uPAR – uPA – PAI-1 interactions and signaling: A vascular biologist’s view

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (03) ◽  
pp. 336-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judit Mihaly ◽  
Gerald Prager ◽  
Bernd Binder
Keyword(s):  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Vascular Biology ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Tumor Cell Biology ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Pai 1

SummaryThe urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its inhibitor PA I-1 and its cellular receptor (uPAR), play a pivotal role in pericellular proteolysis. In addition, through their interactions with extracellular matrix proteins as well as with transmembrane receptors and other links to the intracellular signaling machinery, they modulate cell migration, cell-matrix interactions and signaling pathways. A large body of experimental evidence from in-vitro and in-vivo data as well as from the clinics indicates an important role of the uPA-uPAR-PAI-1 systems in cancer. In addition to their role in tumor cell biology, the uPA-uPAR-PAI-1 systems are also important for vascular biology by modulating angiogenesis and by altering migration of smooth muscle cells and fibrin deposition in atherosclerosis and restenosis. This review will focus on the general mechanism of uPAR/uPA/PAI-1 interactions and signaling and the possible relevance of this system in vascular biology.

scholarly journals DNA-Encircled Lipid Bilayers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Iric ◽  
Madhumalar Subramanian ◽  
Jana Oertel ◽  
Nayan P. Agarwal ◽  
Michael Matthies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Lipid Bilayers ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Dna Nanotechnology ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Associated Proteins

ABSTRACTLipid bilayers and lipid-associated proteins play a crucial role in biology. As in vivo studies and manipulation are inherently difficult, several membrane-mimetic systems have been developed to enable investigation of lipidic phases, lipid-protein interactions, membrane protein function and membrane structure in vitro. Controlling the size and shape, or site-specific functionalization is, however, difficult to achieve with established membrane mimetics based on membrane scaffolding proteins, polymers or peptides. In this work, we describe a route to leverage the unique programmability of DNA nanotechnology and create DNA-encircled bilayers (DEBs), which are made of multiple copies of an alkylated oligonucleotide hybridized to a single-stranded minicircle. To stabilize the hydrophobic rim of the lipid bilayer, and to prevent formation of lipid vesicles, we introduced up to 2 alkyl chains per helical that point to the inside of the toroidal DNA ring and interact with the hydrophobic side chains of the encapsulated lipid bilayer. The DEB approach described herein provides unprecedented control of size, and allows the orthogonal functionalizations and arrangement of engineered membrane nanoparticles and will become a valuable tool for biophysical investigation of lipid phases and lipid-associated proteins and complexes including structure determination of membrane proteins and pharmacological screenings of membrane proteins.

scholarly journals Lamins in disease: why do ubiquitously expressed nuclear envelope proteins give rise to tissue-specific disease phenotypes?

2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Hutchison ◽  
M. Alvarez-Reyes ◽  
O.A. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Partial Lipodystrophy ◽  
Nuclear Lamins ◽  
Disease Phenotypes

The nuclear lamina is a filamentous structure composed of lamins that supports the inner nuclear membrane. Several integral membrane proteins including emerin, LBR, LAP1 and LAP2 bind to nuclear lamins in vitro and can influence lamin function and dynamics in vivo. Results from various studies suggest that lamins function in DNA replication and nuclear envelope assembly and determine the size and shape of the nuclear envelope. In addition, lamins also bind chromatin and certain DNA sequences, and might influence chromosome position. Recent evidence has revealed that mutations in A-type lamins give rise to a range of rare, but dominant, genetic disorders, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction-system disease and Dunnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy. An examination of how lamins A/C, emerin and other integral membrane proteins interact at the INM provides the basis for a novel model for how mutations that promote disease phenotypes are likely to influence these interactions and therefore cause cellular pathology through a combination of weakness of the lamina or altered gene expression.

scholarly journals Dynamic membrane protein topological switching upon changes in phospholipid environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (45) ◽  
pp. 13874-13879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Vitrac ◽  
David M. MacLean ◽  
Vasanthi Jayaraman ◽  
Mikhail Bogdanov ◽  
William Dowhan
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Lipid Composition ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Lactose Permease ◽  
Structural Reorganization ◽  
Membrane Biology

A fundamental objective in membrane biology is to understand and predict how a protein sequence folds and orients in a lipid bilayer. Establishing the principles governing membrane protein folding is central to understanding the molecular basis for membrane proteins that display multiple topologies, the intrinsic dynamic organization of membrane proteins, and membrane protein conformational disorders resulting in disease. We previously established that lactose permease of Escherichia coli displays a mixture of topological conformations and undergoes postassembly bidirectional changes in orientation within the lipid bilayer triggered by a change in membrane phosphatidylethanolamine content, both in vivo and in vitro. However, the physiological implications and mechanism of dynamic structural reorganization of membrane proteins due to changes in lipid environment are limited by the lack of approaches addressing the kinetic parameters of transmembrane protein flipping. In this study, real-time fluorescence spectroscopy was used to determine the rates of protein flipping in the lipid bilayer in both directions and transbilayer flipping of lipids triggered by a change in proteoliposome lipid composition. Our results provide, for the first time to our knowledge, a dynamic picture of these events and demonstrate that membrane protein topological rearrangements in response to lipid modulations occur rapidly following a threshold change in proteoliposome lipid composition. Protein flipping was not accompanied by extensive lipid-dependent unfolding of transmembrane domains. Establishment of lipid bilayer asymmetry was not required but may accelerate the rate of protein flipping. Membrane protein flipping was found to accelerate the rate of transbilayer flipping of lipids.

scholarly journals Stress-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein 1 (Serp1)/Ribosome-Associated Membrane Protein 4 (Ramp4) Stabilizes Membrane Proteins during Stress and Facilitates Subsequent Glycosylation

1999 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. 1195-1204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Yamaguchi ◽  
Osamu Hori ◽  
David M. Stern ◽  
Enno Hartmann ◽  
Satoshi Ogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Integral Membrane Proteins ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein ◽  
Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Application of differential display to cultured rat astrocytes subjected to hypoxia allowed cloning of a novel cDNA, termed stress-associated endoplasmic reticulum protein 1 (SERP1). Expression of SERP1 was enhanced in vitro by hypoxia and/or reoxygenation or other forms of stress, causing accumulation of unfolded proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and in vivo by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. The SERP1 cDNA encodes a 66–amino acid polypeptide which was found to be identical to ribosome-associated membrane protein 4 (RAMP4) and bearing 29% identity to yeast suppressor of SecY 6 protein (YSY6p), suggesting participation in pathways controlling membrane protein biogenesis at ER. In cultured 293 cells subjected to ER stress, overexpression of SERP1/RAMP4 suppressed aggregation and/or degradation of newly synthesized integral membrane proteins, and subsequently, facilitated their glycosylation when the stress was removed. SERP1/RAMP4 interacted with Sec61α and Sec61β, which are subunits of translocon, and a molecular chaperon calnexin. Furthermore, Sec61α and Sec61β, but not SERP1/RAMP4, were found to associate with newly synthesized integral membrane proteins under stress. These results suggest that stabilization of membrane proteins in response to stress involves the concerted action of a rescue unit in the ER membrane comprised of SERP1/RAMP4, other components of translocon, and molecular chaperons in ER.

Cellular and immunological basis of the host-parasite relationship during infection withNeospora caninum

Parasitology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. HEMPHILL ◽  
N. VONLAUFEN ◽  
A. NAGULESWARAN
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Prevention Of Infection ◽  
Parasite Relationship ◽  
Potential Applications

Neospora caninumis an apicomplexan parasite that is closely related toToxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in humans and domestic animals. However, in contrast toT. gondii, N. caninumrepresents a major cause of abortion in cattle, pointing towards distinct differences in the biology of these two species. There are 3 distinct key features that represent potential targets for prevention of infection or intervention against disease caused byN. caninum. Firstly, tachyzoites are capable of infecting a large variety of host cellsin vitroandin vivo. Secondly, the parasite exploits its ability to respond to alterations in living conditions by converting into another stage (tachyzoite-to-bradyzoite orvice versa). Thirdly, by analogy withT. gondii, this parasite has evolved mechanisms that modulate its host cells according to its own requirements, and these must, especially in the case of the bradyzoite stage, involve mechanisms that ensure long-term survival of not only the parasite but also of the host cell. In order to elucidate the molecular and cellular bases of these important features ofN. caninum, cell culture-based approaches and laboratory animal models are being exploited. In this review, we will summarize the current achievements related to host cell and parasite cell biology, and will discuss potential applications for prevention of infection and/or disease by reviewing corresponding work performed in murine laboratory infection models and in cattle.

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