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Acidic fibroblast growth factors from human (hFGF-1) and newt (nFGF-1) (Notopthalamus viridescens) are 16-kDa, all β-sheet proteins with nearly identical three-dimensional structures. Guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl)-induced unfolding of hFGF-1 and nFGF-1 monitored by fluorescence and far-UV circular dichroism (CD) shows that the FGF-1 isoforms differ significantly in their thermodynamic stabilities. GdnHCl-induced unfolding of nFGF-1 follows a two-state (Native state to Denatured state(s)) mechanism without detectable intermediate(s). By contrast, unfolding of hFGF-1 monitored by fluorescence, far-UV circular dichroism, size-exclusion chromatography, and NMR spectroscopy shows that the unfolding process is noncooperative and proceeds with the accumulation of stable intermediate(s) at 0.96M GdnHCl. The intermediate (in hFGF-1) populated maximally at 0.96M GdnHCl has molten globule-like properties and shows strong binding affinity to the hydrophobic dye, 1-Anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS). Refolding kinetics of hFGF-1 and nFGF-1 monitored by stopped-flow fluorescence reveal that hFGF-1 and nFGF-1 adopts different folding mechanisms. The observed differences in the folding/unfolding mechanisms of nFGF-1 and hFGF-1 are proposed to be either due to differential stabilizing effects of the charged denaturant (Gdn+ Cl−) on the intermediate state(s) and/or due to differences in the structural interactions stabilizing the native conformation(s) of the FGF-1 isoforms.

The structure and dynamics of equilibrium intermediate in the unfolding pathway of the human acidic fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-1) are investigated using a variety of biophysical techniques including multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. Guanidinium hydrochloride (GdnHCl)-induced unfolding of hFGF-1 proceeds with the accumulation of a stable intermediate state. The transition from the intermediate state to the unfolded state(s) is cooperative without the accumulation of additional intermediate(s). The intermediate state induced maximally in 0.96 mGdnHCl is found to be obligatory in the folding/unfolding pathway of hFGF-1. Most of the native tertiary structure interactions are preserved in the intermediate state. 1H-15N chemical shift perturbation data suggest that the residues in the C-terminal segment including those located in the β-strands IX, X, and XI undergo the most discernible structural change(s) in the intermediate state in 0.96 mGdnHCl. hFGF-1 in the intermediate state (0.96 mGdnHCl) does not bind to its ligand, sucrose octasulfate. Limited proteolytic digestion experiments and hydrogen-deuterium exchange monitored by15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra show that the conformational flexibility of the protein in the intermediate state is significantly higher than in the native conformation. 15N spin relaxation experiments show that many residues located in β-strands IX, X, and XI exhibit conformational motions in the micro- to millisecond time scale. Analysis of 15N relaxation data in conjunction with the amide proton exchange kinetics suggests that residues in the β-strands II, VIII, and XII possibly constitute the stability core of the protein in the near-native intermediate state.

The guanidinium hydrochloride (GdnHCl)-induced unfolding of an all β-sheet protein, the human acidic fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-1), is studied using a variety of biophysical techniques including multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. The unfolding of hFGF-1 in GdnHCl is shown to involve the formation of a stable equilibrium intermediate. Size exclusion chromotagraphy using fast protein liquid chromatography shows that the intermediate accumulates maximally at 0.96 mGdnHCl. 1-Anilinonapthalene 8-sulfonate binding, one-dimensional 1H NMR, and limited proteolytic digestion experiments suggest that the intermediate has characteristics resembling a molten globule state. Chemical shift perturbation and hydrogen-deuterium exchange monitored by 1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectra reveal that profound structural changes in the intermediate state (in 0.96 mGdnHCl) occur in the C-terminal, heparin binding region of the protein molecule. Additionally, results of the stopped flow fluorescence experiments suggest that the kinetic refolding of hFGF-1 proceeds through the accumulation of an intermediate at low concentrations of the denaturant. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report wherein an equilibrium intermediate is characterized in detail in an all β-barrel protein.