Residues important for the function of a multihelical DNA binding domain in the new transcription factor family of Cam and Tet repressors

We report that some prokaryotic repressors including CamR andTetR belong to the same family. CamR and TetR bind to DNA usinga multihelical DNA binding domain (DBD) at the N-termini ofthe proteins, while the C-termini are important for regulatingthe DNA binding in a manner dependent on their co-factors (camphorfor CamR, tetracycline for TetR). In all, 11 important aminoacid positions have been identified in the CamR DBD by the systematicsubstitution of residues by Ala. Of the 11 positions, 10 areeither buried in the core, and thus important for creating thehydrophobic environment, or exposed on the surface, and thusimportant for binding to DNA. The eleventh residue, Gly, seemsto be important for a loop structure. The DNA binding mode ofthis type of DBD and a general mechanism of regulating theirDNA binding are discussed in reference to the crystal structureof TetR [Hinrichs et al., (1994) Science, 264, 418–420].     

结核分枝杆菌RD1区重组11 kD蛋白的克隆表达及效力

目的在大肠杆菌中表达结核分枝杆菌RD1区11kD蛋白,并检测表达产物的效力。方法构建11kD蛋白编码基因原核表达载体,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)IPTG诱导表达,离子层析柱分离纯化重组蛋白。以结核分枝杆菌致敏豚鼠进行皮肤变态反应(DTH)测定。结果结核分枝杆菌11kD蛋白在大肠杆菌中以可溶形式表达,表达蛋白占总菌体蛋白的33%以上,纯化后纯度达95%以上,并可诱导结核分枝杆菌致敏豚鼠产生迟发型超敏反应,5μg/ml11kD蛋白的效力与50IU/ml TB-PPD相当。结论重组11kD蛋白已在大肠杆菌中成功表达,并有望成为结核病皮试鉴别诊断用新试剂。     

Free energy perturbation study on a Trp-binding mutant (Ser88 ->Cys) of the trp-repressor

The Ser⁸⁸Cys mutant of the trp-repressor showed a lower affinityfor the corepressor than the wild-type repressor [G = 1.7 ±0.3 kcal/mol, Chou and Matthews (1989) J. Biol. Chem., 264,18314–18319].A molecular dynamics/free energy cycle perturbation study wasperformed to understand the origin of the decreased affinity.A value (G = 1.58 ± 0.28 kcal/mol) comparable with theexperimental value was obtained by the simulation. Free energycomponent analysis revealed that destabilization of the vander Waals interaction between Ser⁸⁸ and Trp¹⁰⁹ (corepressor)mainly contributed to the decreased affinity of the mutant.The rotational transition of the hydroxyl (sulfhydryl) groupof Ser⁸⁸ (Cys⁸⁸) during the simulations affected the contributionsof Arg⁸⁴ and water to the free energy change in the aporepressorand those of Arg⁸⁴ and Trp ¹⁰⁹ to that in the holorepressor.However, the contributions from different residues compensatedeach other, and the total free energy changes were almost invariablein the various simulations.     

The stability and unfolding of an IgG binding protein based upon the B domain of protein A from Staphylococcus aureus probed by tryptophan substitution and fluorescence spectroscopy

The stability and unfolding of an immunoglobulin (Ig) G bindingprotein based upon the B domain of protein A (SpAB) from Staphylococcusaureus were studied by substituting tryptophan residues at strategiclocations within each of the three a-helical regions (al-a3)of the domain. The role of the C-terminal helix, a3, was investigatedby generating two protein constructs, one corresponding to thecomplete SpAB, the other lacking a part of ct3; the Trp substitutionswere made in both one-and two-domain versions of each of theseconstructs. The fluorescence properties of each of the single-tryptophanmutants were studied in the native state and as a function ofguanidine-HCl-mediated unfolding, and their IgG binding activitieswere determined by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay. The free energies of folding and of binding to IgG foreach mutant were compared with those for the native domains.The effect of each substitution upon the overall structure andupon the IgG binding interface was modelled by molecular graphicsand energy minimization. These studies indicate that (i) 3 contributesto the overall stability of the domain and to the formationof the IgG binding site in l and 2, and (ii) al unfolds first,followed by 2 and 3 together.     

Ribosome display of mammalian receptor domains

Many mammalian receptor domains, among them a large number of potential therapeutic target proteins, are highly aggregation-prone upon heterologous expression in bacteria. This severely limits functional studies of such receptor domains and also their engineering towards improved properties. One of these proteins is the Nogoreceptor, which plays a central role in mediating the inhibition of axon growth and functional recovery after injury of the adult mammalian central nervous system. We show here that the ligand binding domain of the Nogoreceptor folds to an active conformation in ternary ribosomal complexes, as formed in ribosome display. In these complexes the receptor is still connected, via a C-terminal tether, to the peptidyl tRNA in the ribosome and the mRNA also stays connected. The ribosome prevents aggregation of the protein, which aggregates as soon as the release from the ribosome is triggered. In contrast, no active receptor was observed in phage display, where aggregation appears to prevent incorporation of the protein into the phage coat. This strategy sets the stage for rapidly studying defined mutations of such aggregation-prone receptors in vitro and to improve their properties by in vitro evolution using the ribosome display technology.     

The role of heat-shock and chaperone proteins in protein folding: possible molecular mechanisms

Recently some heat-shock proteins have been linked to functionsof ‘chaperoning’ protein folding in vivo. Here currentexperimental evidence is reviewed and possible requirementsfor such an activity are discussed. It is proposed that onemode of chaperone action is to actively unfold misfolded orbadly aggregated proteins to a conformation from whkh they couldrefold spontaneously; that improperly folded proteins are recognizedby excessive stretches of solvent-exposed backbone, rather thanby exposed hydrophobic patches; and that the molecular mechanismfor unfolding is either repeated binding and dissociation (‘plucking’)or translocation of the protein backbone through a binding cleft(‘threading’), allowing the threaded chain to refoldspontaneously. The observed hydrolysis of ATP would providethe energy for active unfolding. These hypotheses can be appliedto both monomeric folding and oligomeric assembly and are sufficientlydetailed to be open to directed experimental verification.     

A dual-affinity gene fusion system to express small recombinant proteins in a soluble form: expression and characterization of protein A deletion mutants

A novel gene fusion system to express and purify small recombinantproteins in Escherichia coli has been constructed. The conceptallows for affinity purification of soluble gene products bysequential albumin- and Zn²+-affinity chromatography. The dual-affinitysystem is well suited for expression of unstable proteins asonly full-length protein is obtained after purification andproteins gain proteolytic stability in the fusion protein. Herewe show that the dual-affinity approach can be used for theexpression of various unstable derivatives of a single IgG-bindingdomain based on staphylococcal protein A. Analysis of the proteolyticstabilities and the IgG-binding properties of the differentmutant proteins suggest that the model for the structure ofan IgG-binding domain must be re-evaluated.     

Cellulose-binding domains: potential for purification of complex proteins

The endoglucanase CenA and the exoglucanase Cex from Cellulomonasfimi each contain a discrete cellulose-binding domain (CBD),at the amino-terminus or carboxyl-terminus respectively. Thegene fragment encoding the CBD can be fused to the gene of aprotein of interest. Using this approach hybrid proteins canbe engineered which bind reversibly to cellulose and exhibitthe biological activity of the protein partner. Alkaline phosphatase(PhoA) from Escherichia coli, and a ß-glucosidase(Abg) from an Agrobacterium sp. are dimeric proteins. The fusionpolypeptides CenA-PhoA and Abg-CBC_cex are sensitive to proteolysisat the junctions between the fusion partners. Proteolysis resultsin a mixture of homo- and heterodimers; these bind to celluloseif one or both of the monomers carry a CBD, e.g. CenA-PhoA/CenA-PhoAand CenA-PhoA/PhoA. CBD fusion polypeptides could be used inthis way to purify polypeptides which associate with the fusionpartner.     

Characterization of yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.) Seeds as potential sources of high palmitic acid oil

Seeds from 22 accessions of the yam bean species Pachyrhizus ahipa (14 accessions), P. erosus (5), and P. tuberosus (3) were investigated for oil and protein contents, fatty acid composition of the seed oil, and the total tocopherol content and composition. Plants from the accessions were grown under greenhouse conditions during one (P. erosus and P. tuberosus) or two years (P. ahipa). The pattern of the investigated seed quality traits was very similar in the three species. Yam bean seeds were characterized by high oil (from about 20 to 28% in one environment) and protein contents (from about 23 to 34%). Seed oil contained high concentrations of palmitic (from about 25 to 30% of the total fatty acids), oleic (21 to 29%), and linoleic acids (35 to 40%). Levels of linolenic acid were very low, from about 1.0 to 2.5%. Total tocopherol content was relatively low in P. erosus (from 249 to 585 mg kg⁻¹ oil) and P. tuberosus (from 260 to 312 mg kg⁻¹ oil) compared with the levels found in P. ahipa grown under identical conditions (508 to 858 mg kg⁻¹ oil). In all the samples, γ-tocopherol was predominant, accounting for more than 90% of the total tocopherol content. The combination of high oil and protein contents, together with high palmitic acid, low linolenic acid, and high γ-tocopherol concentration, makes these crops an interesting alternative as sources of high palmitic acid oil for the food industry.     

人热休克蛋白70基因的克隆、表达及鉴定

目的克隆人热休克蛋白70(HSP70)基因,构建其原核高效表达载体。方法将PCR扩增的HSP70基因克隆到原核高效表达载体pET-28b中,转化大肠杆菌JM109。挑选阳性克隆,提取质粒pE28b70F,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达目标蛋白。结果在大肠杆菌中成功表达了HSP70,表达量约占细菌总蛋白的22·3%,其中可溶性目标蛋白占上清总蛋白的12%。Westernblot表明该目标蛋白具有与鼠抗人HSP70单抗特异结合的抗原活性。通过Ni2+-NTA亲和柱,从1L诱导产物中纯化出约1520mg重组蛋白,纯度在80%以上。结论已成功表达HSP70,为进一步研究其生物学功能和作用机制奠定了基础。