scholarly journals A comprehensive ensemble model for comparing the allosteric effect of ordered and disordered proteins

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luhao Zhang ◽  
Maodong Li ◽  
Zhirong Liu

AbstractIntrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs) are prevalent in allosteric regulation. It was previously thought that intrinsic disorder is favorable for maximizing the allosteric coupling. Here, we propose a comprehensive ensemble model to compare the roles of both order-order transition and order-disorder transition in allosteric effect. It is revealed that the MWC pathway (order-order transition) has a higher probability than the EAM pathway (disorder-order transition) in allostery, suggesting a complicated role of IDPs/IDRs in regulatory proteins. In addition, an analytic formula for the maximal allosteric coupling response is obtained, which shows that too stable or too unstable state is unfavorable to endow allostery, and is thus helpful for rational design of allosteric drugs.Author SummaryAllosteric effect is an important regulation mechanism in biological processes, where the binding of a ligand at one site of a protein influences the function of a distinct site. Conventionally, allostery was thought to originate from structural transition. However, in recent years, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) were found to be widely involved in allosteric regulation in despite of their lack of ordered structure under physiological condition. It is still a mystery why IDPs are prevalent in allosteric proteins and how they differ from ordered proteins in allostery. Here, we propose a comprehensive ensemble model which includes both ordered and disordered states of a two-domain protein, and investigate the role of various state combinations in allosteric effect. By sampling the parameter space, we conclude that disordered proteins are less competitive than ordered proteins in performing allostery from a thermodynamic point of view. The prevalence of IDPs in allosteric regulation is likely determined by all their advantage, but not only by their capacity in endowing allostery.

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lasse Staby ◽  
Katrine Bugge ◽  
Rasmus Greve Falbe-Hansen ◽  
Edoardo Salladini ◽  
Karen Skriver ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Signal fidelity depends on protein–protein interaction–‘hubs’ integrating cues from large interactomes. Recently, and based on a common secondary structure motif, the αα-hubs were defined, which are small α-helical domains of large, modular proteins binding intrinsically disordered transcriptional regulators. Methods Comparative structural biology. Results We assign the harmonin-homology-domain (HHD, also named the harmonin N-terminal domain, NTD) present in large proteins such as harmonin, whirlin, cerebral cavernous malformation 2, and regulator of telomere elongation 1 to the αα-hubs. The new member of the αα-hubs expands functionality to include scaffolding of supra-modular complexes mediating sensory perception, neurovascular integrity and telomere regulation, and reveal novel features of the αα-hubs. As a common trait, the αα-hubs bind intrinsically disordered ligands of similar properties integrating similar cellular cues, but without cross-talk. Conclusion The inclusion of the HHD in the αα-hubs has uncovered new features, exemplifying the utility of identifying groups of hub domains, whereby discoveries in one member may cross-fertilize discoveries in others. These features make the αα-hubs unique models for decomposing signal specificity and fidelity. Using these as models, together with other suitable hub domain, we may advance the functional understanding of hub proteins and their role in cellular communication and signaling, as well as the role of intrinsically disordered proteins in signaling networks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
George V. Papamokos ◽  
George Tziatzos ◽  
Dimitrios G. Papageorgiou ◽  
Spyros Georgatos ◽  
Efthimios Kaxiras ◽  
...  

Protein phosphorylation is a key regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic cells. In the intrinsically disordered histone tails, phosphorylation is often a part of combinatorial post-translational modifications and an integral part of the “histone code” that regulates gene expression. Here, we study the association between two histone H3 tail peptides modified to different degrees, using fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Assuming that the initial conformations are either α-helical or fully extended, we compare the propensity of the two peptides to associate with one another when both are unmodified, one modified and the other unmodified, or both modified. The simulations lead to the identification of distinct inter- and intramolecular interactions in the peptide dimer, highlighting a prominent role of a fine-tuned phosphorylation rheostat in peptide association. Progressive phosphorylation appears to modulate peptide charge, inducing strong and specific intermolecular interactions between the monomers, which do not result in the formation of amorphous or ordered aggregates, as documented by experimental evidence derived from Circular Dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. However, upon complete saturation of positive charges by phosphate groups, this effect is reversed: intramolecular interactions prevail and dimerization of zero-charge peptides is markedly reduced. These findings underscore the role of phosphorylation thresholds in the dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins. Phosphorylation rheostats might account for the divergent effects of histone modifications on the modulation of chromatin structure.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele F. M. Sciacca ◽  
Fabio Lolicato ◽  
Carmelo Tempra ◽  
Federica Scollo ◽  
Bikash R. Sahoo ◽  
...  

<p>Increasing number of human diseases have been shown to be linked to aggregation and amyloid formation by intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Amylin, amyloid-β, and α-synuclein are, indeed, involved in type-II diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, respectively. Despite the correlation of the toxicity of these proteins at early aggregation stages with membrane damage, the molecular events underlying the process is quite complex to understand. In this study, we demonstrate the crucial role of free lipids in the formation of lipid-protein complex, which enables an easy membrane insertion for amylin, amyloid-β, and α-synuclein. Experimental results from a variety of biophysical methods and molecular dynamics results reveal this common molecular pathway in membrane poration is shared by amyloidogenic (amylin, amyloid-β, and α-synuclein) and non-amyloidogenic (rat IAPP, β-synuclein) proteins. Based on these results, we propose a “lipid-chaperone” hypothesis as a unifying framework for protein-membrane poration.<b></b></p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 3420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyang Yu ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Linsheng Zhang

Abiotic stress affects the growth and development of crops tremendously, worldwide. To avoid adverse environmental effects, plants have evolved various efficient mechanisms to respond and adapt to harsh environmental factors. Stress conditions are associated with coordinated changes in gene expressions at a transcriptional level. Dehydrins have been extensively studied as protectors in plant cells, owing to their vital roles in sustaining the integrity of membranes and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Dehydrins are highly hydrophilic and thermostable intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), with at least one Lys-rich K-segment. Many dehydrins are induced by multiple stress factors, such as drought, salt, extreme temperatures, etc. This article reviews the role of dehydrins under abiotic stress, regulatory networks of dehydrin genes, and the physiological functions of dehydrins. Advances in our understanding of dehydrin structures, gene regulation and their close relationships with abiotic stresses demonstrates their remarkable ability to enhance stress tolerance in plants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Liu ◽  
Yue Guo ◽  
Shangbo Ning ◽  
Mojie Duan

Abstract Phosphorylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications. The phosphorylation of the kinase-inducible domain (KID), which is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), promotes the folding of KID and binding with the KID-interacting domain (KIX). However, the regulation mechanism of the phosphorylation on KID is still elusive. In this study, the structural ensembles and binding process of pKID and KIX are studied by all-atom enhanced sampling technologies. The results show that more hydrophobic interactions are formed in pKID, which promote the formation of the special hydrophobic residue cluster (HRC). The pre-formed HRC promotes binding to the correct sites of KIX and further lead the folding of pKID. Consequently, a flexible conformational selection model is proposed to describe the binding and folding process of intrinsically disordered proteins. The binding mechanism revealed in this work provides new insights into the dynamic interactions and phosphorylation regulation of proteins.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 704 ◽  
Author(s):  
StevenM Mooney ◽  
MohitKumar Jolly ◽  
Herbert Levine ◽  
Prakash Kulkarni

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (37) ◽  
pp. 9882-9887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basile I. M. Wicky ◽  
Sarah L. Shammas ◽  
Jane Clarke

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are characterized by a lack of defined structure. Instead, they populate ensembles of rapidly interconverting conformations with marginal structural stabilities. Changes in solution conditions such as temperature and crowding agents consequently affect IDPs more than their folded counterparts. Here we reveal that the residual structure content of IDPs is modulated both by ionic strength and by the type of ions present in solution. We show that these ion-specific structural changes result in binding affinity shifts of up to sixfold, which happen through alteration of both association and dissociation rates. These effects follow the Hofmeister series, but unlike the well-established effects on the stability of folded proteins, they already occur at low, hypotonic concentrations of salt. We attribute this sensitivity to the marginal stability of IDPs, which could have physiological implications given the role of IDPs in signaling, the asymmetric ion profiles of different cellular compartments, and the role of ions in biology.


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