scholarly journals De novo design of tunable, pH-driven conformational changes

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 364 (6441) ◽  
pp. 658-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott E. Boyken ◽  
Mark A. Benhaim ◽  
Florian Busch ◽  
Mengxuan Jia ◽  
Matthew J. Bick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
De Novo Design ◽  
General Strategy ◽  
Histidine Residues ◽  
Hydrogen Bond Networks

The ability of naturally occurring proteins to change conformation in response to environmental changes is critical to biological function. Although there have been advances in the de novo design of stable proteins with a single, deep free-energy minimum, the design of conformational switches remains challenging. We present a general strategy to design pH-responsive protein conformational changes by precisely preorganizing histidine residues in buried hydrogen-bond networks. We design homotrimers and heterodimers that are stable above pH 6.5 but undergo cooperative, large-scale conformational changes when the pH is lowered and electrostatic and steric repulsion builds up as the network histidine residues become protonated. The transition pH and cooperativity can be controlled through the number of histidine-containing networks and the strength of the surrounding hydrophobic interactions. Upon disassembly, the designed proteins disrupt lipid membranes both in vitro and after being endocytosed in mammalian cells. Our results demonstrate that environmentally triggered conformational changes can now be programmed by de novo protein design.

scholarly journals Regulation of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 871-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Mettlen ◽  
Ping-Hung Chen ◽  
Saipraveen Srinivasan ◽  
Gaudenz Danuser ◽  
Sandra L. Schmid
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Endocytic Pathway ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Membrane Composition ◽  
Coated Pits

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is the major endocytic pathway in mammalian cells. It is responsible for the uptake of transmembrane receptors and transporters, for remodeling plasma membrane composition in response to environmental changes, and for regulating cell surface signaling. CME occurs via the assembly and maturation of clathrin-coated pits that concentrate cargo as they invaginate and pinch off to form clathrin-coated vesicles. In addition to the major coat proteins, clathrin triskelia and adaptor protein complexes, CME requires a myriad of endocytic accessory proteins and phosphatidylinositol lipids. CME is regulated at multiple steps—initiation, cargo selection, maturation, and fission—and is monitored by an endocytic checkpoint that induces disassembly of defective pits. Regulation occurs via posttranslational modifications, allosteric conformational changes, and isoform and splice-variant differences among components of the CME machinery, including the GTPase dynamin. This review summarizes recent findings on the regulation of CME and the evolution of this complex process.

Novel generation of human satellite DNA-based artificial chromosomes in mammalian cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (18) ◽  
pp. 3207-3216 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Csonka ◽  
I. Cserpan ◽  
K. Fodor ◽  
G. Hollo ◽  
R. Katona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Satellite Dna ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Exogenous Dna ◽  
Artificial Chromosomes ◽  
Acrocentric Chromosomes

An in vivo approach has been developed for generation of artificial chromosomes, based on the induction of intrinsic, large-scale amplification mechanisms of mammalian cells. Here, we describe the successful generation of prototype human satellite DNA-based artificial chromosomes via amplification-dependent de novo chromosome formations induced by integration of exogenous DNA sequences into the centromeric/rDNA regions of human acrocentric chromosomes. Subclones with mitotically stable de novo chromosomes were established, which allowed the initial characterization and purification of these artificial chromosomes. Because of the low complexity of their DNA content, they may serve as a useful tool to study the structure and function of higher eukaryotic chromosomes. Human satellite DNA-based artificial chromosomes containing amplified satellite DNA, rDNA, and exogenous DNA sequences were heterochromatic, however, they provided a suitable chromosomal environment for the expression of the integrated exogenous genetic material. We demonstrate that induced de novo chromosome formation is a reproducible and effective methodology in generating artificial chromosomes from predictable sequences of different mammalian species. Satellite DNA-based artificial chromosomes formed by induced large-scale amplifications on the short arm of human acrocentric chromosomes may become safe or low risk vectors in gene therapy.

scholarly journals Computational design of closely related proteins that adopt two well-defined but structurally divergent folds

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (13) ◽  
pp. 7208-7215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Y. Wei ◽  
Danai Moschidi ◽  
Matthew J. Bick ◽  
Santrupti Nerli ◽  
Andrew C. McShan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Conformational Transition ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Spectroscopic Characterization ◽  
De Novo Design ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Related Proteins

The plasticity of naturally occurring protein structures, which can change shape considerably in response to changes in environmental conditions, is critical to biological function. While computational methods have been used for de novo design of proteins that fold to a single state with a deep free-energy minimum [P.-S. Huang, S. E. Boyken, D. Baker, Nature 537, 320–327 (2016)], and to reengineer natural proteins to alter their dynamics [J. A. Davey, A. M. Damry, N. K. Goto, R. A. Chica, Nat. Chem. Biol. 13, 1280–1285 (2017)] or fold [P. A. Alexander, Y. He, Y. Chen, J. Orban, P. N. Bryan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 21149–21154 (2009)], the de novo design of closely related sequences which adopt well-defined but structurally divergent structures remains an outstanding challenge. We designed closely related sequences (over 94% identity) that can adopt two very different homotrimeric helical bundle conformations—one short (∼66 Å height) and the other long (∼100 Å height)—reminiscent of the conformational transition of viral fusion proteins. Crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic characterization shows that both the short- and long-state sequences fold as designed. We sought to design bistable sequences for which both states are accessible, and obtained a single designed protein sequence that populates either the short state or the long state depending on the measurement conditions. The design of sequences which are poised to adopt two very different conformations sets the stage for creating large-scale conformational switches between structurally divergent forms.

scholarly journals Protein phosphatase 2A – structure, function and role in neurodevelopmental disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 134 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Sandal ◽  
Chian Ju Jong ◽  
Ronald A. Merrill ◽  
Jianing Song ◽  
Stefan Strack
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Protein Phosphatase 2A ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
De Novo Mutations ◽  
Sequencing Studies ◽  
Phosphatase 2A

ABSTRACT Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including intellectual disability (ID), autism and schizophrenia, have high socioeconomic impact, yet poorly understood etiologies. A recent surge of large-scale genome or exome sequencing studies has identified a multitude of mostly de novo mutations in subunits of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) holoenzyme that are strongly associated with NDDs. PP2A is responsible for at least 50% of total Ser/Thr dephosphorylation in most cell types and is predominantly found as trimeric holoenzymes composed of catalytic (C), scaffolding (A) and variable regulatory (B) subunits. PP2A can exist in nearly 100 different subunit combinations in mammalian cells, dictating distinct localizations, substrates and regulatory mechanisms. PP2A is well established as a regulator of cell division, growth, and differentiation, and the roles of PP2A in cancer and various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, have been reviewed in detail. This Review summarizes and discusses recent reports on NDDs associated with mutations of PP2A subunits and PP2A-associated proteins. We also discuss the potential impact of these mutations on the structure and function of the PP2A holoenzymes and the etiology of NDDs.

scholarly journals Molecular mechanism of pancreatic tumor metastasis inhibition by Gd@C82(OH)22 and its implication for de novo design of nanomedicine

2012 ◽  
Vol 109 (38) ◽  
pp. 15431-15436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-gu Kang ◽  
Guoqiang Zhou ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Baoyun Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
De Novo Design ◽  
Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Inhibition Mechanism ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Nude Mouse Model

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most lethal of the solid tumors and the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death in North America. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have long been targeted as a potential anticancer therapy because of their seminal role in angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of tumor survival and invasion. However, the inhibition specificity to MMPs and the molecular-level understanding of the inhibition mechanism remain largely unresolved. Here, we found that endohedral metallofullerenol Gd@C82(OH)22 can successfully inhibit the neoplastic activity with experiments at animal, tissue, and cellular levels. Gd@C82(OH)22 effectively blocks tumor growth in human pancreatic cancer xenografts in a nude mouse model. Enzyme activity assays also show Gd@C82(OH)22 not only suppresses the expression of MMPs but also significantly reduces their activities. We then applied large-scale molecular-dynamics simulations to illustrate the molecular mechanism by studying the Gd@C82(OH)22–MMP-9 interactions in atomic detail. Our data demonstrated that Gd@C82(OH)22 inhibits MMP-9 mainly via an exocite interaction, whereas the well-known zinc catalytic site only plays a minimal role. Steered by nonspecific electrostatic, hydrophobic, and specific hydrogen-bonding interactions, Gd@C82(OH)22 exhibits specific binding modes near the ligand-specificity loop S1′, thereby inhibiting MMP-9 activity. Both the suppression of MMP expression and specific binding mode make Gd@C82(OH)22 a potentially more effective nanomedicine for pancreatic cancer than traditional medicines, which usually target the proteolytic sites directly but fail in selective inhibition. Our findings provide insights for de novo design of nanomedicines for fatal diseases such as pancreatic cancer.

scholarly journals Computational design of a protein family that adopts two well-defined and structurally divergent de novo folds

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Y. Wei ◽  
Danai Moschidi ◽  
Matthew J. Bick ◽  
Santrupti Nerli ◽  
Andrew C. McShan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Conformational Transition ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Spectroscopic Characterization ◽  
De Novo Design ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Viral Fusion Proteins

AbstractThe plasticity of naturally occurring protein structures, which can change shape considerably in response to changes in environmental conditions, is critical to biological function. While computational methods have been used to de novo design proteins that fold to a single state with a deep free energy minima (Huang et al., 2016), and to reengineer natural proteins to alter their dynamics (Davey et al., 2017) or fold (Alexander et al., 2009), the de novo design of closely related sequences which adopt well-defined, but structurally divergent structures remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we design closely related sequences (over 94% identity) that can adopt two very different homotrimeric helical bundle conformations -- one short (∼66 Å height) and the other long (∼100 Å height) -- reminiscent of the conformational transition of viral fusion proteins (Ivanovic et al., 2013; Podbilewicz, 2014; Skehel and Wiley, 2000). Crystallographic and NMR spectroscopic characterization show that both the short and long state sequences fold as designed. We sought to design bistable sequences for which both states are accessible, and obtained a single designed protein sequence that populates either the short state or the long state depending on the measurement conditions. The design of sequences which are poised to adopt two very different conformations sets the stage for creating large scale conformational switches between structurally divergent forms.

scholarly journals 2- and 3-dimensional synthetic large-scale de novo patterning by mammalian cells through phase separation

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise Cachat ◽  
Weijia Liu ◽  
Kim C. Martin ◽  
Xiaofei Yuan ◽  
Huabing Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
De Novo ◽  
3 Dimensional
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