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Combating the worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the emergence of new variants demands understanding of the structural basis of the interaction of antibodies with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). Here, we report five X-ray crystal structures of sybodies (synthetic nanobodies) including those of binary and ternary complexes of Sb16-RBD, Sb45-RBD, Sb14-RBD-Sb68, and Sb45-RBD-Sb68, as well as unliganded Sb16. These structures reveal that Sb14, Sb16, and Sb45 bind the RBD at the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 interface and that the Sb16 interaction is accompanied by a large conformational adjustment of complementarity-determining region 2. In contrast, Sb68 interacts at the periphery of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 interface. We also determined cryo-EM structures of Sb45 bound to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Superposition of the X-ray structures of sybodies onto the trimeric spike protein cryo-EM map indicates that some sybodies may bind in both "up" and "down" configurations, but others may not. Differences in sybody recognition of several recently identified RBD variants are explained by these structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central to CD8+ T cell–mediated immunity is the recognition of peptide–major histocompatibility complex class I (p–MHC I) proteins displayed by antigen-presenting cells. Chaperone-mediated loading of high-affinity peptides onto MHC I is a key step in the MHC I antigen presentation pathway. However, the structure of MHC I with a chaperone that facilitates peptide loading has not been determined. We report the crystal structure of MHC I in complex with the peptide editor TAPBPR (TAP-binding protein–related), a tapasin homolog. TAPBPR remodels the peptide-binding groove of MHC I, resulting in the release of low-affinity peptide. Changes include groove relaxation, modifications of key binding pockets, and domain adjustments. This structure captures a peptide-receptive state of MHC I and provides insights into the mechanism of peptide editing by TAPBPR and, by analogy, tapasin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate nucleic acids with selenium derivatization for crystallography, we report the first synthesis of 2‘-methylseleno-thymidine phosphoramidite and its incorporation into DNAs and RNAs by solid-phase synthesis with over 99% coupling yield. The d(GTSeGTACAC)2crystal structure was also determined at 1.40 Å resolution using Se phasing, revealing that this Se derivatization did not cause significant structure perturbation, consistent with our UV melting study. In addition, we observed that the Se modification largely facilitated the crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AqpZ is a homotetramer of four water-conducting channels that facilitate rapid water movements across the plasma membrane of Escherichia coli. Here we report a 3.2 Å crystal structure of the tetrameric AqpZ (tAqpZ). All channel-lining residues in the four monomeric channels are found orientated in nearly identical positions with one marked exception at the narrowest channel constriction, where the side chain of a highly conserved Arg-189 adopts two distinct conformational orientations. In one of the four monomers, the guanidino group of Arg-189 points toward the periplasmic vestibule, opening up the constriction to accommodate the binding of a water molecule through a tridentate H-bond. In the other three monomers, the Arg-189 guanidino group bends over to form an H-bond with carbonyl oxygen of the Thr-183, thus occluding the channel. Therefore, the tAqpZ structure reveals two distinct Arg-189 confirmations associated with water permeation through the channel constrictions. Alternation between the two Arg-189 conformations disrupts continuous flow of water, thus regulating the open probability of the water pore. Further, the difference in Arg-189 displacements is correlated with a strong electron density found between the first transmembrane helices of two open channels, suggesting that the observed Arg-189 conformations are stabilized by asymmetrical subunit interactions in tAqpZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey and analysis of Protein Data Bank (PDB) depositions from international synchrotron radiation facilities, based on the latest released PDB entries, are reported. The results (http://asdp.bnl.gov/ asda/Libraries/) show that worldwide, every year since 1999, more than 50% of the deposited X-ray structures have used synchrotron facilities, reaching 75% by 2003. In this web-based database, all PDB entries among individual synchrotron beamlines are archived, synchronized with the weekly PDB release. Statistics regarding the quality of experimental data and the refined model for all structures are presented, and these are analysed to reflect the impact of synchrotron sources. The results confirm the common impression that synchrotron sources extend the size of structures that can be solved with equivalent or better quality than home sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domains are crucial signaling modules during innate immune responses involving the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R). Myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88) is a central TIR domain-containing adapter molecule responsible for nearly all TLR-mediated signaling and is targeted by a TIR domain-containing protein C (TcpC) from virulent uropathogenic Escherichia coli, a common human pathogen. The mechanism of such molecular antagonism has remained elusive. We present the crystal structure of the MyD88 TIR domain with distinct loop conformations that underscore the functional specialization of the adapter, receptor, and microbial TIR domains. Our structural analyses shed light on the genetic mutations at these loops as well as the Poc site. We demonstrate that TcpC directly associates with MyD88 and TLR4 through its predicted DD and BB loops to impair the TLR-induced cytokine induction. Furthermore, NMR titration experiments identify the unique CD, DE, and EE loops from MyD88 at the TcpC-interacting surface, suggesting that TcpC specifically engages these MyD88 structural elements for immune suppression. These findings thus provide a molecular basis for the subversion of TLR signaling by the uropathogenic E. coli virulence factor TcpC and furnish a framework for the design of novel therapeutic agents that modulate immune activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the possibility of the interaction of 5-CH3of thymidine and its 5′-phosphate backbone (C−H···O−−PO3interaction) in DNA viathe insertion of the atomic probe (a selenium atom) into the exo-5-position of thymidine (5-Se-T). 5-Se-T was synthesized for the first time, via Mn(OAc)3assisted electrophilic addition of CH3SeSeCH3to 3′,5′-di-O-benzoyl-2′-deoxyuridine. The 5-Se-T phosphoramidite was subsequently synthesized and incorporated into DNA in over 99% coupling yield. Biophysical and structural investigations of the 5-Se-T DNAs revealed that the Se-modified and nonmodified DNAs are virtually identical. In addition, the crystallographic analysis of a 5-Se-T DNA strongly suggests a hydrogen-bond formation between the 5-CH3and 5′-phosphate groups (CH3···PO4−interaction). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike cytosolic processing and presentation of viral Ags by virus-infected cells, Ags first expressed in infected nonprofessional APCs, such as CD4+ T cells in the case of HIV are taken up by dendritic cells and cross-presented. This generally requires entry through the endocytic pathway, where endosomal proteases have first access for processing. Thus, understanding virus escape during cross-presentation requires an understanding of resistance to endosomal proteases, such as cathepsin S (CatS). We have modified HIV-1MN gp120 by mutating a key CatS cleavage site (Thr322Thr323) in the V3 loop of the immunodominant epitope IGPGRAFYTT to IGPGRAFYVV to prevent digestion. We found this mutation to facilitate cross-presentation and provide evidence from MHC binding and X-ray crystallographic structural studies that this results from preservation of the epitope rather than an increased epitope affinity for the MHC class I molecule. In contrast, when the protein is expressed by a vaccinia virus in the cytosol, the wild-type protein is immunogenic without this mutation. These proof-of-concept results show that a virus like HIV, infecting predominantly nonprofessional presenting cells, can escape T cell recognition by incorporating a CatS cleavage site that leads to destruction of an immunodominant epitope when the Ag undergoes endosomal cross-presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites a research study that analyzes the replacement of oxygen on the nucleobases with sulfur, which has offered useful information on the DNA duplex stability, recognition, and replication at the atomic level. The enhanced base-paring selectivity and the replication efficiency and fidelity have been revealed by many studies. The replacement of oxygen with selenium on the nucleobases of nucleic acids may have more advantage over the natives as selenium is much larger than oxygen.

Peptide loading of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules is central to antigen presentation, self-tolerance, and CD8+ T-cell activation. TAP binding protein, related (TAPBPR), a widely expressed tapasin homolog, is not part of the classical MHC-I peptide-loading complex (PLC). Using recombinant MHC-I molecules, we show that TAPBPR binds HLA-A*02:01 and several other MHC-I molecules that are either peptide-free or loaded with low-affinity peptides. Fluorescence polarization experiments establish that TAPBPR augments peptide binding by MHC-I. The TAPBPR/MHC-I interaction is reversed by specific peptides, related to their affinity. Mutational and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies confirm the structural similarities of TAPBPR with tapasin. These results support a role of TAPBPR in stabilizing peptide- receptive conformation(s) of MHC-I, permitting peptide editing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domains are crucial innate immune signaling modules. Microbial TIR domain-containing proteins inhibit Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling through molecular mimicry. The TIR domain-containing protein TcpB from Brucella inhibits TLR signaling through interaction with host adaptor proteins TIRAP/Mal and My D88. To characterize the microbial mimicry of host proteins, we have determined the X-ray crystal structures of the TIR domains from the Brucella protein TcpB and the host adaptor protein TIRAP. We have further characterized homotypic interactions of TcpB using hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and hetero-typic TcpB and TIRAP interaction by co-immunoprecipitation and NF-κB reporter assays. The crystal structure of the TcpB TIR domain reveals the microtubule-binding site encompassing the BB loop as well as a symmetrical dimer mediated by the DD and EE loops. This dimerization interface is validated by peptide mapping through hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. The human TIRAP TIR domain crystal structure reveals a unique N-terminal TIR domain fold containing a disulfide bond formed by Cys89 and Cys134. A comparison between the TcpB and TIRAP crystal structures reveals substantial conformational differences in the region that encompasses the BB loop. These findings underscore the similarities and differences in the molecular features found in the microbial and host TIR domains, which suggests mechanisms of bacterial mimicry of host signaling adaptor proteins, such as TIRAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]