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CXCR3 gene expression analysis

Supplemental Material and Method section

The CXCL4 paralog CXCL4L1 is a less studied chemokine that has been suggested to exert an antiangiogenic function. However, CXCL4L1 is also expressed in patient tumors, tumor cell lines, and murine xenografts, prompting a more detailed analysis of its role in cancer pathogenesis. We used genetic and antibody-based approaches to attenuate CXCL4L1 in models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Mechanisms of expression were assessed in cell coculture experiments, murine, and avian xenotransplants, including through an evaluation of CpG methylation and mutation of critical CpG residues. CXCL4L1 gene expression was increased greatly in primary and metastatic PDAC. We found that myofibroblasts triggered cues in the tumor microenvironment, which led to induction of CXCL4L1 in tumor cells. CXCL4L1 expression was also controlled by epigenetic modifications at critical CpG islands, which were mapped. CXCL4L1 inhibited angiogenesis but also affected tumor development more directly, depending on the tumor cell type. In vivo administration of an mAb against CXCL4L1 demonstrated a blockade in the growth of tumors positive for CXCR3, a critical receptor for CXCL4 ligands. Our findings define a protumorigenic role in PDAC development for endogenous CXCL4L1, which is independent of its antiangiogenic function. Cancer Res; 76(22); 6507–19. ©2016 AACR.

BCL-2, a key protein in inhibiting apoptosis, has a 65-residue-long highly flexible loop domain (FLD) located on the opposite side of its ligand-binding groove. In vivo phosphorylation of the FLD enhances the affinity of BCL-2 for pro-apoptotic ligands, and consequently anti-apoptotic activity. However, it remains unknown as to how the faraway, unstructured FLD modulates the affinity. Here we investigate the protein-ligand interactions by fluorescence techniques and monitor protein dynamics by DEER and NMR spectroscopy tools. We show that phosphomimetic mutations on the FLD lead to a reduction in structural flexibility, hence promoting ligand access to the groove. The bound pro-apoptotic ligands can be displaced by the BCL-2-selective inhibitor ABT-199 efficiently, and thus released to trigger apoptosis. We show that changes in structural flexibility on an unstructured loop can activate an allosteric protein that is otherwise structurally inactive., Lan et al. make single and triple phosphomimetic mutations in a long flexible loop domain of BCL-2 and show that these mutations reduce structural flexibility and promote ligand access to the groove. Their study indicates that changes in structural flexibility on an unstructured loop can activate an allosteric, otherwise inactive protein.

The delivery of active proteins into cells (protein transfection) for biological purposes offers considerable potential for clinical applications. Herein we demonstrate that, with a readily available, inexpensive organic agent, the 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) method can be used for simple and efficient protein transfection. By mixing proteins with a pure HEPES solution before they are applied to live cells, proteins with various molecular weights (including antibodies, recombinant proteins, and peptides) were successfully delivered into the cytoplasm of different cell types. The protein transfection efficiency of the HEPES method was not inferior to that of commercially available systems that are both more expensive and time consuming. Studies using endocytotic inhibitors and endosomal markers have revealed that cells internalize HEPES-protein mixtures through endocytosis. Results that HEPES-protein mixtures exhibited a low diffusion coefficient suggest that HEPES might neutralize the charges of proteins and, thus, facilitate their cellular internalization. Upon internalization, the cytosolic antibodies caused the degradation of targeted proteins in TRIM21-expressing cells. In summary, the HEPES method is efficient for protein transfection and has potential for myriad clinical applications. Keywords: HEPES, protein transfection, intracellularly targeting

CC-type chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) has been known to regulate immune responses by mediating the chemotaxis of leukocytes. Depending on the environment, CCL5 forms different orders of oligomers to interact with targets and create functional diversity. A recent CCL5 trimer structure revealed that the N-terminal conversed F12-A13-Y14 (12FAY14) sequence is involved in CCL5 aggregation. The CCL5-12AAA14 mutant with two mutations had a deficiency in the formation of high-order oligomers. In the study, we clarify the respective roles of F12 and Y14 through NMR analysis and structural determination of the CCL5-12AAA14 mutant where F12 is involved in the dimer assembly and Y14 is involved in aggregation. The CCL5-12AAA14 structure contains a unique dimer packing. The backbone pairing shifts for one-residue in the N-terminal interface, when compared to the native CCL5 dimer. This difference creates a new structural orientation and leads to the conclusion that F12 confines the native CCL5 dimer configuration. Without F12 anchoring in the position, the interfacial backbone pairing is permitted to slide. Structural plasticity occurs in the N-terminal interaction. This is the first case to report this structural rearrangement through mutagenesis. The study provides a new idea for chemokine engineering and complements the understanding of CCL5 oligomerization and the role of the 12FAY14 sequence.

CXCL4 chemokines have antiangiogenic properties, mediated by different mechanisms, including CXCR3 receptor activation. Chemokines have distinct oligomerization states that are correlated with their biological functions. CXCL4 exists as a stable tetramer under physiological conditions. It is unclear whether the oligomerization state impacts CXCL4-receptor interaction. We found that the CXCL4 tetramer is sensitive to pH and salt concentration. Residues Glu28 and Lys50 were important for tetramer formation, and the first β-strand and the C-terminal helix are critical for dimerization. By mutating the critical residues responsible for oligomerization, we generated CXCL4 mutants that behave as dimers or monomers under neutral/physiological conditions. The CXCL4 monomer acts as the minimal active unit for interacting CXCR3A, and sulfation of N-terminal tyrosine residues on the receptor is important for binding. Noticeably, CXCL4L1, a CXCL4 variant that differs by three residues in the C-terminal helix, could activate CXCR3A. CXCL4L1 showed a higher tendency to dissociate into monomers, but native CXCL4 did not. This result indicates that monomeric CXCL4 behaves like CXCL4L1. Thus, in this chemokine family, being in the monomeric state seems critical for interaction with CXCR3A.

CC-type chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) is involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory conditions. Under physiological conditions, CCL5 oligomerization and aggregation are considered to be responsible for its inflammatory properties. The structural basis of CCL5 oligomerization remains controversial because the current oligomer models contain no consensus interactions. In this study, NMR and biophysical analyses proposed evidence that the CC-type CCL5 dimer acts as the basic unit to constitute the oligomer and that CCL5 oligomerizes alternatively through E66-K25 and E66-R44/K45 interactions. In addition, a newly determined trimer structure, constituted by CCL5 and the E66S mutant, reported an interfacial interaction through the N-terminal 12FAY14 sequence. The interaction contributes to CCL5 aggregation and precipitation but not to oligomerization. In accordance with the observations, an integrative model explains the CCL5 oligomerization and aggregation mechanism in which CCL5 assembly consists of two types of dimer-dimer interactions and one aggregation mechanism. For full-length CCL5, the molecular accumulation triggers oligomerization through the E66-K25 and E66-R44/K45 interactions, and the 12FAY14 interaction acts as a secondary effect to derive aggregation and precipitation. In contrast, the E66-R44/K45 interaction might dominate in CCL5 N-terminal truncations, and the interaction would lead to filament-like formation in solution.

In this chapter, we propose to use salt-sensitive intein as a fusion protein to promote polypeptide expression; the removal of intein from the target sequence requires no enzyme, only a buffer change. The method will be particularly helpful for large-scale polypeptide preparations. Intein is an enzyme that can perform N- and C-terminal self-cleavage. Upon introduction of a mutation to eliminate the N-terminal cleavage activity, the C-terminal cleavage function can still be preserved. This feature was used to develop intein as a fusion protein through conjugation with a given sequence to promote protein expression in a biosynthesis system. Fused intein could later be separated from the target sequence through a C-terminal self-cleavage reaction. Here, a type of salt-sensitive intein is characterized in which ionic strength becomes an effector to control the self-cleavage activity. Low salt concentrations favor the cleavage reaction. Thus, using salt-sensitive intein as a fusion protein simply requires a buffer change to activate the self-cleavage mechanism, which makes it an enzyme-free process. This process has many advantages, including low cost, no extra residue remaining after cleavage, feasibility for preparing proteins starting from a non-Met codon and a special benefit for producing isotope-labeled peptides.

A 10-residue, glycosaminoglycan-binding peptide, GBPECP, derived from human eosinophil cationic protein has been recently designated as a potent cell-penetrating peptide. A model system containing peptide, glycan, and lipid was monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the cell-penetrating mechanism. Heparin octasaccharide with dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) lipid micelle was titrated into the GBPECP solution. Our data revealed substantial roles for the charged residues Arg5 and Lys7 in recognizing heparin, whereas Arg3 had less effect. The aromatic residue Trp4 acted as an irreplaceable moiety for membrane insertion, as the replacement of Trp4 with Arg4 abolished cell penetration, although it significantly improved the heparin-binding ability. GBPECP bound either heparin or lipid in the presence or absence of the other ligand indicating that the peptide has two alternative binding sites: Trp4 is responsible for lipid insertion, and Arg5 and Lys7 are for GAG binding. We develope...

Human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses persist as a major global health concern. Vaccination remains the primary protective strategy against H5N1 and other novel avian influenza virus infections. We investigated the use of E. coli type IIb heat labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTIIb-B5) as a mucosal adjuvant for intranasal immunizations with recombinant HA proteins against H5N1 avian influenza viruses. Use of LTIIb-B5 adjuvant elicited more potent IgG, IgA, and neutralizing antibody titers in both sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, thus increasing protection against lethal virus challenges. LTIIb-B5 mucosal adjuvanticity was found to trigger stronger Th17 cellular response in spleen lymphocytes and cervical lymph nodes. Studies of anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody depletion and IL-17A knockout mice also suggest the contribution from Th17 cellular response to anti-H5N1 protective immunity. Our results indicate a link between improved protection against H5N1 live virus challenges and increased Th17 response due to the use of LTIIb-B5 mucosal adjuvant with HA subunit proteins.

In this chapter, we propose to use salt-sensitive intein as a fusion protein to promote polypeptide expression; the removal of intein from the target sequence requires no enzyme, only a buffer change. The method will be particularly helpful for large-scale polypeptide preparations. Intein is an enzyme that can perform N- and C-terminal self-cleavage. Upon introduction of a mutation to eliminate the N-terminal cleavage activity, the C-terminal cleavage function can still be preserved. This feature was used to develop intein as a fusion protein through conjugation with a given sequence to promote protein expression in a biosynthesis system. Fused intein could later be separated from the target sequence through a C-terminal self-cleavage reaction. Here, a type of salt-sensitive intein is characterized in which ionic strength becomes an effector to control the self-cleavage activity. Low salt concentrations favor the cleavage reaction. Thus, using salt-sensitive intein as a fusion protein simply requires a buffer change to activate the self-cleavage mechanism, which makes it an enzyme-free process. This process has many advantages, including low cost, no extra residue remaining after cleavage, feasibility for preparing proteins starting from a non-Met codon and a special benefit for producing isotope-labeled peptides.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (hHDGF) and HDGF-related proteins (HRPs) contain conserved N-terminal HATH domains with a characteristic structural motif, namely the PWWP motif. The HATH domain has attracted attention because of its ability to bind with heparin/heparan sulfate, DNA, and methylated histone peptide. Depending on the sequence of the PWWP motif, HRP HATHs are classified into P-type (Pro-His-Trp-Pro) and A-type (Ala-His-Trp-Pro) forms. A-type HATH is highly unstable and tends to precipitate in solution. We replaced the Pro residue in P-type HATHHDGF with Ala and evaluated the influence on structure, dynamics, and ligand binding. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) hydrogen/deuterium exchange and circular dichroism (CD) measurements revealed reduced stability. Analysis of NMR backbone (15)N relaxations (R1, R2, and nuclear Overhauser effect) revealed additional backbone dynamics in the interface between the β-barrel and the C-terminal helix bundle. The β1-β2 loop, where the AHWP sequence is located, has great structural flexibility, which aids HATH-HATH interaction through the loop. A-type HATH, therefore, shows a stronger tendency to aggregate when binding with heparin and DNA oligomers. This study defines the role of the first residue of the PWWP motif in modulating HATH domain stability and oligomer formation in binding.

The chemokine CCL5 is considered to be a potential therapeutic target because of its ability to recruit immune cells to inflammatory sites. CCL5 aggregates under physiological conditions, and high-order oligomer formation is considered to be significant for cell migration, immune-cell activation and HIV cell entry. The structure of the high-order oligomer is unknown and the mechanism by which the oligomer is derived has yet to be established. Here, a CCL5 mutant (CCL5-E66S) which is deficient in oligomer formation was mixed with native CCL5 to prepare a protein trimer. At an optimized ratio the trimeric CCL5 crystallized, and the crystal belonged to the tetragonal space groupP41212, with unit-cell parametersa= 56.6,b= 56.6,c= 154.1 Å. The Matthews coefficient (VM) of the crystal is 2.58 Å3 Da−1(three molecules in the asymmetric unit), with a solvent content of 52.32%. Diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 1.87 Å and the statistics indicated satisfactory data quality. The new structure will reveal the interfaces in the CCL5 oligomer, therefore assisting in understanding the mechanism of CCL5 oligomerization.

Electrostatic interaction is a major driving force in the binding of proteins to highly acidic glycosaminoglycan, such as heparin. Although NMR backbone chemical shifts have generally been used to identify the heparin-binding site on a protein, however, there is no correlation between the binding free energies and the perturbed backbone chemical shifts for individual residues. The binding event occurs at the end of a side chain of basic residue, and does not require causing significant alterations in the backbone environment at a distance of multiple bonds. We used the H2CN NMR pulse sequence to detect heparin binding through the side-chain resonances He–Ce–Nζ of Lys and Hδ–Cδ–Ne of Arg in the two proteins of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2). H2CN titration experiments revealed chemical shift perturbations in the side chains, which were correlated with the free energy changes in various mutants. The residues K19 in HDGF and K125 in FGF2 demonstrated the most significant perturbations, consistent with our previous observation that the two residues are crucial for binding. The result suggests that H2CN NMR provides a precise evaluation for the electrostatic interactions. The discrepancy observed between backbone and side chain chemical shifts is correlated to the solvent accessibility of residues that the K19 and K125 backbones are highly buried with the restricted backbone conformation and are not strongly affected by the events at the end of the side chains.

The efficacies of many antimicrobial peptides are greatly reduced in the presence of high salt concentrations therefore limiting their development as pharmaceutical compounds. PEM-2-W5K/A9W, a short Trp-rich antimicrobial peptide developed based on the structural studies of PEM-2, has been shown to be highly active against various bacterial strains with less hemolytic activity. Here, correlations between membrane immersion depth, orientation, and salt-resistance of PEM-2 and PEM-2-W5K/A9W have been investigated via solution structure and paramagnetic resonance enhancement studies. The antimicrobial activities of PEM-2-W5K/A9W and PEM-2 against various bacterial and fungal strains including multidrug-resistant and clinical isolates under high salt conditions were tested. The activities of the salt-sensitive peptide PEM-2 were reduced and diminished at high salt concentrations, whereas the activities of PEM-2-W5K/A9W were less affected. The results indicated that the strong salt-resistance of PEM-2-W5K/A9W may arise from the peptide positioning itself deeply into microbial cell membranes and thus able to disrupt the membranes more efficiently.

A 10-residue, glycosaminoglycan-binding peptide, GBP

Split inteins have emerged as a powerful tool in protein engineering. We describe a reliable in silico method to predict viable split sites for the design of new split inteins. A computational circular permutation (CP) prediction method facilitates the search for internal permissive sites to create artificial circular permutants. In this procedure, the original amino- and carboxyl-termini are connected and new termini are created. The identified new terminal sites are promising candidates for the generation of new split sites with the backbone opening being tolerated by the structural scaffold. Here we show how to integrate the online usage of the CP predictor, CPred, in the search of new split intein sites.

Split inteins have emerged as a powerful tool in protein engineering. We describe a reliable in silico method to predict viable split sites for the design of new split inteins. A computational circular permutation (CP) prediction method facilitates the search for internal permissive sites to create artificial circular permutants. In this procedure, the original amino- and carboxyl-termini are connected and new termini are created. The identified new terminal sites are promising candidates for the generation of new split sites with the backbone opening being tolerated by the structural scaffold. Here we show how to integrate the online usage of the CP predictor, CPred, in the search of new split intein sites.

// Chia-Lung Tsai 1, * , Angel Chao 1, 2, * , Shih-Ming Jung 3 , Chi-Neu Tsai 4 , Chiao-Yun Lin 2 , Shun-Hua Chen 2, 5 , Shih-Che Sue 6 , Tzu-Hao Wang 1, 2, 7 , Hsin-Shih Wang 2 , Chyong-Huey Lai 2 1 Genomic Medicine Research Core Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan 3 Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan 4 Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan 5 Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan 6 Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan 7 School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Tzu-Hao Wang, email: knoxtn@cgmh.org.tw Keywords: JAK2, STIP1, cancer Received: March 08, 2016 Accepted: June 17, 2016 Published: July 8, 2016 ABSTRACT Overexpression of stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1) − a co-chaperone of heat shock protein (HSP) 70/HSP90 – and activation of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway occur in several tumors. Combined treatment with a HSP90 inhibitor and a JAK2 inhibitor exert synergistic anti-cancer effects. Here, we show that STIP1 stabilizes JAK2 protein in ovarian and endometrial cancer cells. Knock-down of endogenous STIP1 decreased JAK2 and phospho-STAT3 protein levels. The N-terminal fragment of STIP1 interacts with the N-terminus of JAK2, whereas the C-terminal DP2 domain of STIP1 mediates the interaction with HSP90 and STAT3. A peptide fragment in the DP2 domain of STIP1 (peptide 520) disrupted the interaction between STIP1 and HSP90 and induced cell death through JAK2 suppression. In an animal model, treatment with peptide 520 inhibited tumor growth. In summary, STIP1 modulates the function of the HSP90-JAK2-STAT3 complex. Peptide 520 may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of JAK2-overexpressing tumors.

It has been axiomatic in the field of NF-κB signaling that the formation of a stable complex between NF-κB and the ankyrin repeat protein IκBα precludes the interaction of NF-κB with DNA. Contradicting this assumption, we present stopped-flow fluorescence and NMR experiments that give unequivocal evidence for the presence of a ternary DNA–NF-κB–IκBα complex in solution. Stepwise addition of a DNA fragment containing the κB binding sequence to the IκBα–NF-κB complex results in changes in the IκBα NMR spectrum that are consistent with dissociation of the region rich in proline, glutamate, serine, and threonine (PEST) and C-terminal ankyrin repeat sequences of IκBα from the complex. However, even at high concentrations of DNA, IκBα remains associated with NF-κB, indicated by the absence of resonances of the free N-terminal ankyrin repeats of IκBα. The IκBα-mediated release of NF-κB from its DNA-bound state may be envisioned as the reverse of this process. The initial step would consist of the coupled folding and binding of the intrinsically disordered nuclear localization sequence of the p65 subunit of NF-κB to the well-structured N-terminal ankyrin repeats of IκBα. Subsequently the poorly folded C-terminal ankyrin repeats of IκBα would fold upon binding to the p50 and p65 dimerization domains of NF-κB, permitting the negatively charged C-terminal PEST sequence of IκBα to displace the bound DNA through a process of local mass action.

The nuclear localization signal (NLS) polypeptide of RelA, the canonical nuclear factor-κB family member, is responsible for regulating the nuclear localization of RelA-containing nuclear factor-κB dimers. The RelA NLS polypeptide also plays a crucial role in mediating the high affinity and specificity of the interaction of RelA-containing dimers with the inhibitor IκBα, forming two helical motifs according to the published X-ray crystal structure. In order to define the nature of the interaction between the RelA NLS and IκBα under solution conditions, we conducted NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry studies using a truncated form of IκBα containing residues 67-206 and a peptide spanning residues 293-321 of RelA. The NLS peptide, although largely unfolded, has a weak tendency toward helical structure when free in solution. Upon addition of the labeled peptide to unlabeled IκBα, the resonance dispersion in the NMR spectrum is significantly greater, providing definitive evidence that the RelA NLS polypeptide folds upon binding IκBα. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies of single-point mutants reveal that residue F309, which is located in the middle of the more C-terminal of the two helices (helix 4) in the IκBα-bound RelA NLS polypeptide, is critical for the binding of the RelA NLS polypeptide to IκBα. These results help to explain the role of helix 4 in mediating the high affinity of RelA for IκBα.

HDGF (hepatoma-derived growth factor) stimulates cell proliferation by functioning on both sides of the plasma membrane as a ligand for membrane receptor binding to trigger cell signalling and as a stimulator for DNA synthesis in the nucleus. Although HDGF was initially identified as a secretory heparin-binding protein, the biological significance of its heparin-binding ability remains to be determined. In the present study we demonstrate that cells devoid of surface HS (heparan sulfate) were unable to internalize HDGF, HATH (N-terminal domain of HDGF consisting of amino acid residues 1–100, including the PWWP motif) and HATH(K96A) (single-site mutant form of HATH devoid of receptor binding activity), suggesting that the binding of HATH to surface HS is important for HDGF internalization. We further demonstrate that both HATH and HATH(K96A) could be internalized through macropinocytosis after binding to the cell surface HS. Interestingly, HS-mediated HATH(K96A) internalization is found to exhibit an inhibitory effect on cell migration and proliferation in contrast with that observed for HATH action on NIH 3T3 cells, suggesting that HDGF exploits the innate properties of both cell surface HS and membrane receptor via the HATH domain to affect related cell signalling processes. The present study indicates that MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signalling pathways could be affected by the HS-mediated HATH internalization to regulate cell migration in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, as judged from the differential effect of HATH and HATH(K96A) treatment on the expression level of matrix metalloproteases.

Inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is mainly accomplished by IkappaB alpha, which consists of a signal response sequence at the N-terminus, a six-ankyrin repeat domain (ARD) that binds NF-kappaB, and a C-terminal PEST sequence. Previous studies with the ARD revealed that the fifth and sixth repeats are only partially folded in the absence of NF-kappaB. Here we report NMR studies of a truncated version of IkappaB alpha, containing only the first four ankyrin repeats, IkappaB alpha(67-206). This four-repeat segment is well-structured in the free state, enabling full resonance assignments to be made. H-D exchange, backbone dynamics, and residual dipolar coupling (RDC) experiments reveal regions of flexibility. In addition, regions consistent with the presence of micro- to millisecond motions occur periodically throughout the repeat structure. Comparison of the RDCs with the crystal structure gave only moderate agreement, but an ensemble of structures generated by accelerated molecular dynamics gave much better agreement with the measured RDCs. The regions showing flexibility correspond to those implicated in entropic compensation for the loss of flexibility in ankyrin repeats 5 and 6 upon binding to NF-kappaB. The regions showing micro- to millisecond motions in the free protein are the ends of the beta-hairpins that directly interact with NF-kappaB in the complex.

The transcription factor NF-κB (p50/p65) binds either a κB DNA element or its inhibitor protein, IκBα, but these two binding events are mutually exclusive. The reason for this exclusivity is not obvious from the available crystal structure data. The C-terminal PEST-like sequence of IκBα appears to be involved in the process, but it is located in both of the published X-ray structures of the IκBα/NF-κB complex at a significant distance away from the DNA contact loop in the NF-κB DNA-binding domain. We have used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and differential isotopic labeling to probe the interactions between the p50/p65 NF-κB heterodimer and IκBα in solution. Our measurements are able to resolve a local structural discrepancy between the two crystal structures, and we confirm that the primary interaction of the IκBα PEST domain is with the DNA-binding domain of the p65 subunit. Mutagenesis of key arginine residues in the DNA contact sequence results in the loss of specific interaction of the PEST sequence with the p65 subdomain. We conclude that the local structure of the IκBα/NF-κB complex in the region of the PEST sequence is consistent with a direct interaction of this acidic sequence with the basic DNA contact sequence in p65, thus reducing the affinity of NF-κB for DNA by a competitive mechanism that is still to be elucidated fully.

The mechanism of inhibition of the transcriptional activator nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) by the inhibitor IkappaB* is central to the understanding of the control of transcriptional activity via this widely employed pathway. Previous studies suggested that IkappaB* , a modular protein with an NF-kappaB binding domain consisting of six ankyrin repeat domains (ANKs), shows differential flexibility, with ANK 1-4 apparently more rigid in solution in the absence of NF-kappaB than ANK 5 and 6. Here we report NMR studies that confirm the enhanced flexibility of ANK 5 and 6 in free IkappaB* . Upon binding of NF-kappaB, ANK 5 and 6 become well structured and rigid, but, somewhat surprisingly, other domains of the IkappaB* , which were relatively rigid in the free protein, become significantly more flexible. Due to the high molecular masses of the component proteins and the complexes, we employ a hierarchical experimental plan to maximize the available information on local flexibility in the ankyrin repeat domains. Backbone resonances of the 221-residue IkappaB* protein were assigned firstly in a smaller construct consisting of ankyrin repeats 1-4. These assignments could be readily transferred to the spectra of the construct containing six repeats, both free and complexed with various combinations of the NF-kappaB p50 and p65 domains. Transverse relaxation optimized spectroscopy-type NMR experiments on differentially labeled proteins enabled information on backbone structure and dynamics to be obtained, even in complexes with molecular masses approaching 100 kDa. Changes in the flexibility and stability of the various ankyrin repeat domains of IkappaB* complex formation take a variety of forms depending on the position of the domain in the complex, providing a variety of examples of the structural and functional utility of intrinsically unstructured or partly folded protein domains.

Receptor-binding and subsequent signal-activation of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) are essential to immune and proinflammatory responses. We mutated 12 residues to identify sites important for biological activity and/or receptor binding. Four of these mutants with mutations in loop 9 (T117A, E118K, E118A, E118R) displayed significantly reduced biological activity. Neither T117A nor E118K mutants substantially affected receptor binding, whereas both mutants lack the IL-1β signaling in vitro but can antagonize wild-type (WT) IL-1β. Crystal structures of T117A, E118A and E118K revealed that the secondary structure or surface charge of loop 9 is dramatically altered compared with that of wild-type chicken IL-1β. Molecular dynamics simulations of IL-1β bound to its receptor (IL-1RI) and receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) revealed that loop 9 lies in a pocket that is formed at the IL-1RI/IL-1RAcP interface. This pocket is also observed in the human ternary structure. The conformations of above mutants in loop 9 may disrupt structural packing and therefore the stability in a chicken IL-1β/IL-1RI/IL-1RAcP signaling complex. We identify the hot spots in IL-1β that are essential to immune responses and elucidate a mechanism by which IL-1β activity can be inhibited. These findings should aid in the development of new therapeutics that neutralize IL-1 activity.

Coronavirus nucleocapsid proteins are basic proteins that encapsulate viral genomic RNA to form part of the virus structure. The nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV is highly antigenic and associated with several host-cell interactions. Our previous studies using nuclear magnetic resonance revealed the domain organization of the SARS-CoV nucleocapsid protein. RNA has been shown to bind to the N-terminal domain (NTD), although recently the C-terminal half of the protein has also been implicated in RNA binding. Here, we report that the C-terminal domain (CTD), spanning residues 248–365 (NP248-365), had stronger nucleic acid-binding activity than the NTD. To determine the molecular basis of this activity, we have also solved the crystal structure of the NP248-365 region. Residues 248–280 form a positively charged groove similar to that found in the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) nucleocapsid protein. Furthermore, the positively charged surface area is larger in the SARS-CoV construct than in the IBV. Interactions between residues 248–280 and the rest of the molecule also stabilize the formation of an octamer in the asymmetric unit. Packing of the octamers in the crystal forms two parallel, basic helical grooves, which may be oligonucleotide attachment sites, and suggests a mechanism for helical RNA packaging in the virus.

The CXCL4 paralog CXCL4L1 is a less studied chemokine that has been suggested to exert an antiangiogenic function. However, CXCL4L1 is also expressed in patient tumors, tumor cell lines, and murine xenografts, prompting a more detailed analysis of its role in cancer pathogenesis. We used genetic and antibody-based approaches to attenuate CXCL4L1 in models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Mechanisms of expression were assessed in cell coculture experiments, murine, and avian xenotransplants, including through an evaluation of CpG methylation and mutation of critical CpG residues. CXCL4L1 gene expression was increased greatly in primary and metastatic PDAC. We found that myofibroblasts triggered cues in the tumor microenvironment, which led to induction of CXCL4L1 in tumor cells. CXCL4L1 expression was also controlled by epigenetic modifications at critical CpG islands, which were mapped. CXCL4L1 inhibited angiogenesis but also affected tumor development more directly, depending on the tumor cell type. In vivo administration of an mAb against CXCL4L1 demonstrated a blockade in the growth of tumors positive for CXCR3, a critical receptor for CXCL4 ligands. Our findings define a protumorigenic role in PDAC development for endogenous CXCL4L1, which is independent of its antiangiogenic function. Cancer Res; 76(22); 6507–19. ©2016 AACR.

The double-stranded telomeric repeat-binding protein (TRP) AtTRP1 is isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. Using gel retardation assays, we defined the C-terminal 97 amino acid residues, Gln464 to Val560 (AtTRP1(464-560)), as the minimal structured telomeric repeat-binding domain. This region contains a typical Myb DNA-binding motif and a C-terminal extension of 40 amino acid residues. The monomeric AtTRP1(464-560) binds to a 13-mer DNA duplex containing a single repeat of an A.thaliana telomeric DNA sequence (GGTTTAG) in a 1:1 complex, with a K(D) approximately 10(-6)-10(-7) M. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) examination revealed that the solution structure of AtTRP1(464-560) is a novel four-helix tetrahedron rather than the three-helix bundle structure found in typical Myb motifs and other TRPs. Binding of the 13-mer DNA duplex to AtTRP1(464-560) induced significant chemical shift perturbations of protein amide resonances, which suggests that helix 3 (H3) and the flexible loop connecting H3 and H4 are essential for telomeric DNA sequence recognition. Furthermore, similar to that in hTRF1, the N-terminal arm likely contributes to or stabilizes DNA binding. Sequence comparisons suggested that the four-helix structure and the involvement of the loop residues in DNA binding may be features unique to plant TRPs.

The SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein is a major antigen in severe acute respiratory syndrome. It binds to the viral RNA genome and forms the ribonucleoprotein core. The SARS-CoV N protein has also been suggested to be involved in other important functions in the viral life cycle. Here we show that the N protein consists of two non-interacting structural domains, the N-terminal RNA-binding domain (RBD) (residues 45-181) and the C-terminal dimerization domain (residues 248-365) (DD), surrounded by flexible linkers. The C-terminal domain exists exclusively as a dimer in solution. The flexible linkers are intrinsically disordered and represent potential interaction sites with other protein and protein-RNA partners. Bioinformatics reveal that other coronavirus N proteins could share the same modular organization. This study provides information on the domain structure partition of SARS-CoV N protein and insights into the differing roles of structured and disordered regions in coronavirus nucleocapsid proteins.

Understanding the functions of the vast number of proteins encoded in many genomes that have been completely sequenced recently is the main challenge for biologists in the post-genomics era. Since the function of a protein is determined by its exact three-dimensional structure it is paramount to determine the 3D structures of all proteins. This need has driven structural biologists to undertake the structural genomics project aimed at determining the structures of all known proteins. Several centers for structural genomics studies have been established throughout the world. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has played a major role in determining protein structures in atomic details and in a physiologically relevant solution state. Since the number of new genes being discovered daily far exceeds the number of structures determined by both NMR and X-ray crystallography, a high-throughput method for speeding up the process of protein structure determination is essential for the success of the structural genomics effort. In this article we will describe NMR methods currently being employed for protein structure determination. We will also describe methods under development which may drastically increase the throughput, as well as point out areas where opportunities exist for biophysicists to make significant contribution in this important field.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF)-related proteins (HRPs) comprise a new protein family that has been implicated in nephrogenesis, tumorigenesis, vascular development, cell proliferation, and transcriptional activation. All HRPs share a conserved N-terminal homologous to the amino terminus of HDGF (HATH) domain, but vary significantly in the C-terminal region. Here, we show that in solution the N and C termini of human HDGF form two structurally independent domains. The 100 amino acid residue N-terminal HATH domain is well-structured while the 140 amino acid residue C-terminal domain is disordered. We determined the solution structure of the HATH domain by NMR. The core structure of the HATH domain is a five-stranded beta-barrel followed by two alpha-helices, similar to those of PWWP domains of known structures. Surface plasmon resonance results showed that the HATH domain is primarily responsible for heparin binding. On the basis of the chemical shift perturbation induced by binding of heparin-derived hexasaccharide, we identified a prominent, highly positively charged region as the putative heparin-binding site. Sequence comparison and structure prediction suggest that all HRPs are likely to adapt a similar modular structure.

It has been shown previously that the long chain fragments of heparin bind to the beta-strand cationic belt of the three-finger cobra cardiotoxin (or cytotoxin, CTX) and hence enhance its penetration into phospholipid monolayer under physiological ionic conditions. By taking lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) micelles as a membrane model, we have shown by (1)H NMR study that the binding of heparin-derived hexasaccharide (Hep-6) to CTX at the beta-strand region can induce conformational changes of CTX near its membrane binding loops and promote the binding activity of CTX toward LPC. The Fourier-transform infrared spectra and NMR nuclear Overhauser effect of Hep-6.CTX and CTX.LPC complex in aqueous buffer also supplemented the aforementioned observation. Thus, the detected conformational change may presumably be the result of structural coupling between the connecting loops and its beta-strands. This is the first documentation of results showing how the association of hydrophilic carbohydrate molecules with amphiphilic proteins can promote hydrophobic protein-lipid interaction via the stabilization of its membrane-bound form. A similar mechanism involving tripartite interactions of heparin, protein, and lipid molecules may be operative near the extracellular matrix of cell membranes.

Protein internal hydrogen bonds and hydrophobicity determine protein folding and structure stabilization, and the introduction of a hydrogen bond has been believed to represent a better interaction for consolidating protein structure. We observed an alternative example for chicken IL-1β. The native IL-1β contains a hydrogen bond between the Y157 side-chain OηH and I133 backbone CO, whereby the substitution from Tyr to Phe abolishes the connection and the mutant without the hydrogen bond is more stable. An attempt to explain the energetic view of the presence of the hydrogen bond fails when only considering the nearly identical X-ray structures. Here, we resolve the mechanism by monitoring the protein backbone dynamics and interior hydrogen bond network. IL-1β contains a hydrophobic cavity in the protein interior, and Y157 is one of the surrounding residues. The Y157 OηH group introduces an unfavorable energy in the hydrophobic cavity, therefore sequestering itself by forming a hydrogen bond with the proximate residue I133. The hydrogen bonding confines Y157 orientation but exerts a force to disrupt the hydrogen bond network surrounding the cavity. The effect propagates over the entire protein and reduces the stability, as reflected in the protein backbone dynamics observed by an NMR hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange experiment. We describe the particular case in which a hydrogen bond does not necessarily confer enhanced protein stability while the disruption of hydrophobicity must be integrally considered.

Knowledge of virulence and immunogenicity is important for development of live-attenuated dengue vaccines. We previously reported that an infectious clone-derived dengue type 4 virus (DENV-4) passaged in MRC-5 cells acquired a Glu345Lys (E-E345K) substitution in the E protein domain III (E-DIII). The same cloned DENV-4 was found to yield a single E-Glu327Gly (E-E327G) mutation after passage in FRhL cells and cause the loss of immunogenicity in rhesus monkeys. Here, we used site-directed mutagenesis to generate the E-E345K and E-E327G mutants from DENV-4 and DENV-4Δ30 infectious clones and propagated in Vero or MRC-5 cells. The E-E345K mutations were consistently presented in viruses recovered from MRC-5 cells, but not Vero cells. Recombinant E-DIII proteins of E345K and E327G increased heparin binding correlated with the reduced infectivity by heparin treatment in cell cultures. Different from the E-E327G mutant viruses to lose the immunogencity in rhesus monkeys, the E-E345K mutant viruses were able to induce neutralizing antibodies in rhesus monkeys with an almost a 10-fold lower level of viremia as compared to the wild type virus. Monkeys immunized with the E-E345K mutant virus were completely protected with no detectable viremia after live virus challenges with the wild type DENV-4. These results suggest that the E-E345K mutant virus propagated in MRC-5 cells may have potential for the use in live-attenuated DENV vaccine development.

Ethylene plays versatile functions in regulating plant physiology. Although the high affinity ethylene receptor and its downstream regulators have been identified, the molecular recognition of the receptor interacting domains remains to be established. It has been speculated that the cytoplasmic signaling of the ethylene receptor is a two-component regulatory system involving the conserved receiver domain (RD). Here, we report the NMR chemical shift assignments for RD from Arabidopsis thaliana ethylene receptor ETR1. Nearly complete backbone and side-chain assignments were achieved at pH 6.0 and 25 °C. The assignments and backbone dynamics revealed the secondary structure and showed that ETR1-RD is a monomer in solution. These results will make it possible to monitor downstream binding partners and elucidates our understanding of phosphotransfer in the plant two-component regulatory system in the ethylene signaling pathway.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is a pleiotropic growth factor exhibiting a variety of biological activities. In this article, we studied the capacity of FGF2 purified with or without heparin affinity chromatography to self-associate. Analyzing the NMR HSQC spectra for different FGF2 concentrations, heparin-affinity purified FGF2 showed perturbations that indicate dimerization and are a higher-order oligomerization state. HSQC perturbation observed with different FGF2 concentrations revealed a heparin-binding site and two dimer interfaces. Thus, with increasing protein concentrations, FGF2 monomers make contacts with each other and form dimers or higher order oligomers. On the contrary, FGF2 purified with ionexchange chromatography did not show similar perturbation indicating that self-association of FGF2 is eliminated if purification is done without heparin-affinity chromatography. The HSQC spectra of heparin-affinity purified FGF2 can be reproduced to some extent by adding heparin tetra-saccharide to ion exchange chromatography purified FGF2. Heparinaffinity purified FGF2 bound to acceptor and donor beads in a tagged form using His-tagged or GST-tagged proteins, also dimerized in the AlphaScreen TM assay. This assay was further validated using different experimental conditions and competitors. The assay constitutes an interesting tool to study dimerization of other FGF forms as well.