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The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus belongs to the Coronaviridea family of viruses. Its virion encodes several proteins including a replicase and four structural proteins. Here we describe the three-dimensional structure of the N-terminal domain of the SARS coronavirus (CoV) nucleocapsid protein. The protein consists of a five-stranded beta sheet with a folding topology distinct from other RNA-binding proteins. Single-stranded RNAs bind to the protein surface at the junction between a flexible, positively charged beta hairpin and the core structure. NMR-based screening was used to identify low molecular weight compounds that bind to this site.

The three-dimensional structure of the DNA-binding domain of the E2 protein from human papillomavirus-31 was determined by using multidimensional heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A total of 1429 NMR-derived distance and dihedral angle restraints were obtained for each of the 83-residue subunits of this symmetric dimer. The average root mean square deviations of 20 structures calculated using a distance geometry-simulated annealing protocol are 0.59 and 0.90 angstroms for the backbone and all heavy atoms, respectively, for residues 2-83. The structure of the human virus protein free in solution consists of an eight-stranded beta-barrel and two pairs of alpha-helices. Although the overall fold of the protein is similar to the crystal structure of the bovine papillomavirus-1 E2 protein when complexed to DNA, several small but interesting differences were observed between these two structures at the subunit interface. In addition, a beta-hairpin that contacts DNA in the crystal structure of the protein-DNA complex is disordered in the NMR structures, and steady-state 1H-15N heteronuclear NOE measurements indicate that this region is highly mobile in the absence of DNA. The recognition helix also appears to be flexible, as evidenced by fast amide exchange rates. This phenomenon has also been observed for a number of other DNA-binding proteins and may constitute a common theme in protein/DNA recognition.

The amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) is a two-domain protein which consists of a kringle and a growth factor domain (GFD). The dynamics of uniformly 15N-labeled ATF was examined by measuring the longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) 15N relaxation times and heteronuclear NOEs. The data were interpreted in terms of the model-independent spectral density function. The GFD was found to exhibit a high degree of anisotropy, whereas the kringle domain of ATF undergoes isotropic reorientation. This difference in anisotropy is best explained by the two domains moving independently such as differently shaped beads on a string. With the exception of the N- and C-terminal regions of the protein, the most flexible region of ATF was the seven-residue omega loop (N22-I28) of the GFD which has been implicated in the binding of u-PA to its receptor. The amides of the linker region between the domains displayed high values of the order parameter, indicating restricted motion on the picosecond time scale. This is in contrast to the flexible linker of calmodulin [Barbato et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 5269-5278], which displayed low values of S2 and unrestricted motion in the linker region.

The amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of urokinase-type plasminogen activator is a two domain protein which consists of a growth factor and a kringle domain. The 1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shifts of this protein have been assigned using heteronuclear two- and three-dimensional NMR experiments on selective and uniformly 15N- and 15N/13C-labeled protein isolated from mammalian cells that overexpress the protein. The chemical shift assignments were used to interpret the NOE data which resulted in a total of 1299 NOE restraints. The NOE restraints were used along with 27 phi angle restraints and 21 hydrogen-bonding restraints to produce 15 low energy structures. The individual domains in the structures are highly converged, but the two domains are structurally independent. The root mean square deviations (rmsd) between residues 11-46 in the growth factor domain and the mean atomic coordinates were 0.99 +/- 0.2 for backbone heavy atoms and 1.65 +/- 0.2 for all non-hydrogen atoms. For residues 55-130 in the kringle domain, the rmsd was 0.84 +/- 0.2 for backbone heavy atoms and 1.42 +/- 0.2 for all non-hydrogen atoms. The overall structures of the individual domains are very similar to the structures of homologous proteins. However, important structural differences between the growth factor and other homologous proteins were observed in the region which has been implicated in binding the urokinase receptor which may explain, in part, why other growth factors show no appreciable affinity for the urokinase receptor.

A high-resolution three-dimensional solution structure of the FKBP/ascomycin complex has been determined using heteronuclear multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and a distance geometry/simulated annealing protocol. A total of 43 structures of the complex, including 3 tightly bound water molecules, were obtained using 1958 experimental restraints consisting of 1724 nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) derived distances, 66 chi 1 and 46 phi angular restraints, and 122 hydrogen bond restraints. The root mean square (rms) deviations between the 43 FKBP/ascomycin solution structures and the mean atomic coordinates were 0.43 +/- 0.08 A for the backbone heavy atoms and 0.80 +/- 0.08 A for all non-hydrogen atoms. Angular order parameters for the family of 43 conformations were calculated to determine dihedral convergence. Order parameters for phi, psi, and chi 1 angles exhibited mean values of 0.98, 0.97, and 0.95, respectively, while the mean of the chi 2 order parameter was 0.63. Comparisons were made between the FKBP/ascomycin complex and two NMR-derived solution structures of unbound FKBP and the X-ray crystal structure of an FKBP/FK506 complex. Differences were observed between the FKBP/ascomycin complex and uncomplexed FKBP for residues 33-45 and 78-92. In contrast, the NMR-derived solution structure of the FKBP/ascomycin complex and the X-ray crystal structure of the FKBP/FK506 complex were very similar. Differences between the two complexes were mainly observed in the conformations of some highly solvent exposed side chains.

A method to obtain uniformly isotopically labeled (15N and 15N/13C) protein from mammalian cells is described. The method involves preparation of isotopically labeled media consisting of amino acids isolated from bacterial and algal extracts supplemented with cysteine and enzymatically synthesized glutamine. The approach is demonstrated by producing 15N-labeled and 15N/13C-labeled urokinase from Sp2/0 cells and successfully growing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells on the labeled media. Thus, using the procedures described, isotopically labeled proteins that have been expressed in mammalian cells can be prepared, allowing them to be studied by heteronuclear multidimensional NMR techniques.

Paramagnetic agents produce line broadening and thus cancellation of anti phase cross-peak components in two-dimensional correlated nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The specificity of this effect was examined to determine its utility for identifying surface residues of proteins. Ubiquitin and hen egg white lysozyme, for which X-ray crystal structures and proton NMR assignments are available, served as test cases. Two relaxation reagents were employed, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy and the gadolinium (III) diethylenetriaminepentaacetate complex ion. Correlations were sought between reagent-produced decreases of side-chain cross-peak volumes in double-quantum-filtered proton correlation (DQF-COSY) spectra and the solvent-exposed side-chain surface area of the corresponding residues. The lanthanide complex produced strong effects ascribable to association with carboxylate groups but was not otherwise useful in delineating surface residues. The nitroxyl, on the other hand, produced clear distinctions among the Val, Leu, and Ile residues that generally paralleled side-chain exposure in the crystal, although consistent correlations were not observed with residues of other types. Although an instance of possible specific protein-nitroxyl association was noted, the nitroxyl appears to be a tool for identifying hydrophobic surface residues.

A detailed 1H NMR analysis of ligand binding to the human plasminogen kringle 4 domain has been carried out at 300 MHz. The ligands that were investigated are N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine, L-lysine methyl ester, N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester, L-lysine hydroxamic acid, trans-(aminomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (AMCHA), and 4-(aminomethyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1-carboxylic acid (AMBOC). Specific ligand-binding effects were detected via two-dimensional COSY experiments. The side chains that are the most perturbed by ligand presence are those from Trp62, Phe64, and Trp72. Ligand-kringle saturation transfer (Overhauser) experiments show that the aromatic rings from these three residues, especially Trp72, are in direct contact with the ligand. These results add support to a previously reported model of the kringle 4 lysine-binding site [Ramesh, V., Petros, A. M., Llinás, M., Tulinsky, A., & Park, C. H. (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 198, 481-498] by which these aromatic groups are assigned a key role in establishing hydrophobic interactions with the ligand molecule. Equilibrium association constants (Ka) and kinetic rate constants (kon, koff) were determined for the binding of the various linear and cyclic ligands to kringle 4. We find that those ligands whose carboxylate function is blocked bind significantly weaker (Ka approximately less than 2 mM-1) than the corresponding analogues where the anionic center is present (Ka approximately greater than 20 mM-1), which underscores the relevance of the polar group in stabilizing the interaction with the kringle 4 binding site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Two-dimensional (2D) proton magnetic resonance techniques used in conjunction with laser photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) spectroscopy have been applied to studying the kringle 4 domain from human plasminogen at 360 MHz. Out of 11 potential CIDNP-sensitive aromatic side chains, only 5 (His3, Tyr41, Tyr50, Trp72, and Tyr74) appear to be accessible to 3-(carboxymethyl)lumiflavin, the dye used to photogenerate spin polarization. Of these, Trp72 and Tyr74 are known to be at, or near, the lysine-binding site. The spin-spin scalar (J) and phase-sensitive dipolar (Overhauser) connectivities in the 2D experiments yield absolute assignments for the aromatic signals stemming from the exposed tyrosyl and tryptophanyl rings. Moreover, a number of side-chain H beta resonances can be identified and assigned to specific types of aromatic amino acid residues.