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Deletion of Phe-508 (F508del) in the first nucleotide binding domain (NBD1) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) leads to defects in folding and channel gating. NMR data on human F508del NBD1 indicate that an H620Q mutant, shown to increase channel open probability, and the dual corrector/potentiator CFFT-001 similarly disrupt interactions between β-strands S3, S9, and S10 and the C-terminal helices H8 and H9, shifting a preexisting conformational equilibrium from helix to coil. CFFT-001 appears to interact with β-strands S3/S9/S10, consistent with docking simulations. Decreases in T(m) from differential scanning calorimetry with H620Q or CFFT-001 suggest direct compound binding to a less thermostable state of NBD1. We hypothesize that, in full-length CFTR, shifting the conformational equilibrium to reduce H8/H9 interactions with the uniquely conserved strands S9/S10 facilitates release of the regulatory region from the NBD dimerization interface to promote dimerization and thereby increase channel open probability. These studies enabled by our NMR assignments for F508del NBD1 provide a window into the conformational fluctuations within CFTR that may regulate function and contribute to folding energetics.

Background: Structural and biochemical studies of mammalian membrane proteins remain hampered by inefficient production of pure protein. We explored codon optimization based on highly expressed Pichia pastoris genes to enhance co-translational folding and production of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump involved in multidrug resistance of cancers., Methodology/principal Findings: Codon-optimized "Opti-Pgp" and wild-type Pgp, identical in primary protein sequence, were rigorously analyzed for differences in function or solution structure. Yeast expression levels and yield of purified protein from P. pastoris (∼130 mg per kg cells) were about three-fold higher for Opti-Pgp than for wild-type protein. Opti-Pgp conveyed full in vivo drug resistance against multiple anticancer and fungicidal drugs. ATP hydrolysis by purified Opti-Pgp was strongly stimulated ∼15-fold by verapamil and inhibited by cyclosporine A with binding constants of 4.2±2.2 µM and 1.1±0.26 µM, indistinguishable from wild-type Pgp. Maximum turnover number was 2.1±0.28 µmol/min/mg and was enhanced by 1.2-fold over wild-type Pgp, likely due to higher purity of Opti-Pgp preparations. Analysis of purified wild-type and Opti-Pgp by CD, DSC and limited proteolysis suggested similar secondary and ternary structure. Addition of lipid increased the thermal stability from T(m) ∼40 °C to 49 °C, and the total unfolding enthalpy. The increase in folded state may account for the increase in drug-stimulated ATPase activity seen in presence of lipids., Conclusion: The significantly higher yields of protein in the native folded state, higher purity and improved function establish the value of our gene optimization approach, and provide a basis to improve production of other membrane proteins.

Upon removal of the regulatory insert (RI), the first nucleotide binding domain (NBD1) of human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) can be heterologously expressed and purified in a form that remains stable without solubilizing mutations, stabilizing agents or the regulatory extension (RE). This protein, NBD1 387-646(Delta405-436), crystallizes as a homodimer with a head-to-tail association equivalent to the active conformation observed for NBDs from symmetric ATP transporters. The 1.7-A resolution X-ray structure shows how ATP occupies the signature LSGGQ half-site in CFTR NBD1. The DeltaF508 version of this protein also crystallizes as a homodimer and differs from the wild-type structure only in the vicinity of the disease-causing F508 deletion. A slightly longer construct crystallizes as a monomer. Comparisons of the homodimer structure with this and previously published monomeric structures show that the main effect of ATP binding at the signature site is to order the residues immediately preceding the signature sequence, residues 542-547, in a conformation compatible with nucleotide binding. These residues likely interact with a transmembrane domain intracellular loop in the full-length CFTR channel. The experiments described here show that removing the RI from NBD1 converts it into a well-behaved protein amenable to biophysical studies yielding deeper insights into CFTR function.

Human growth hormone (hGH), whose main function is the somatic growth stimulation, induces diverse effects including lactation. We examined the possibility of hGH stabilization by elimination of its lactogenic activity. Chimeric GHs were constructed by replacement of different segments of hGH with sequences derived from non-lactogenic porcine GH. As was observed in the rat Nb2-11C lymphoma cell test, lactogenic activity of some chimeric hormones was seriously destroyed. This kind of hormones displayed the substantial increase in thermal and guanidine hydrochloride stability. The more stable hGH variants were found to be more soluble in Escherichia coli cells.

The interaction of a 20-residue-long peptide derived from the calmodulin-binding domain of the smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase with calcium-free calmodulin (apocalmodulin) was studied using a combination of isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. We showed that: (i) a significant binding between apocalmodulin and the target peptide (RS20) exists in the absence of salt (Ka = 10(6) M-1), (ii) the peptide interacts with the C-terminal lobe of calmodulin and adopts a partly helical conformation, and (iii) the presence of salt weakens the affinity of the peptide for apocalmodulin, emphasizing the importance of electrostatic interactions in the complex. Based on these results and taking into account the work of Bayley et al. (Bayley, P. M., Findlay, W.A., and Martin, S. R. (1996) Protein Sci. 5, 1215-1228), we suggest a physiological role for apocalmodulin.

The mechanism by which barnase and binase are stabilized in their complexes with barstar and the role of the Cys-40 residue of barstar in that stabilization have been investigated by scanning microcalorimetry. Melting of ribonuclease complexes with barstar and its Cys-82-Ala mutant is described by two 2-state transitions. The lower-temperature one corresponds to barstar denaturation and the higher-temperature transition to ribonuclease melting. The barstar mutation Cys-40-Ala, which is within the principal barnase-binding region of barstar, simplifies the melting to a single 2-state transition. The presence of residue Cys-40 in barstar results in additional stabilization of ribonuclease in the complex.

Binase, the extracellular ribonuclease of Bacillus intermedius, is inhibited by barstar, the natural protein inhibitor of the homologous RNase, barnase, of B. intermedius. The dissociation constants of the binase complexes with barstar and its double Cys40,82Ala mutant are about 10(-12) M, only 5 to 43 times higher than those of the barnase-barstar complex. As with barnase, the denaturation temperature of binase is raised dramatically in the complex. Calorimetric studies of the formation and stability of the binase-barstar complex show that the binase reaction with barstar is qualitatively similar to that of barnase but some significant quantitative differences are reported.

The effect of ethanol and pH on thermodynamic parameters and cooperativity of pepsinogen heat denaturation was studied by scanning microcalorimetry. Addition of 20% ethanol decreases the protein denaturation temperature by 10.7 degrees C at pH 6.4 and 15.8 degrees C at pH 8.0. It also decreases the denaturation heat capacity increment from 5.8 to 4.2 kcal/K.mol. The dependences of calorimetric denaturation enthalpy on denaturation temperature both in water and 20% ethanol are linear and intersect at about 95 degrees C. In 20% ethanol the pH shift from 5.9 to 8.0 results in a decreased number of cooperative domains in pepsinogen. This process causes no changes either in the secondary structure or in the local surroundings of aromatic amino acids. It is concluded that ethanol addition does not affect the cooperativity of pepsinogen denaturation substantially until the pH change provokes redistribution of charges in the protein molecule.

Scanning microcalorimetry was used to study heat denaturation of barnase in complex with its intracellular inhibitor barstar. The heat denaturation of the barnase-barstar complex is well approximately by two two-state transitions with the lower temperature transition corresponding to barstar denaturation and the higher temperature one to barnase denaturation. The temperature of barnase melting in its complex with barstar is 20 degrees C higher than that of the free enzyme. The barstar melting temperature is almost the same in the complex or alone (71 degrees C at pH 6.2 and 68 degrees C at pH 8.0). It seems possible that when barstar unfolds it can remain bound to barnase, while the latter unfolds only on dissociation of the denatured barstar.

The heat denaturation of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP) was studied by scanning microcalorimetry. The thermodynamic parameters of the denaturation were estimated within the pH range 6-9. The analysis of the denaturation curves showed the presence of two cooperative parts of the T7RNAP molecule melting according to the 'all-or-none' principle. The molecular masses of these parts were determined as 22 and 77 kDa. These values are close to the molecular masses of protein domains obtained from X-ray diffraction and limited trypsinolysis data. The smaller N-terminal domain was shown to increase the thermostability of the 'catalytic' C-terminal domain within the intact T7RNAP molecule.

In this study, we investigated enzymatic deglycosylation of glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori X 100/D27, a glycoprotein which has two N-linked and about forty short mannose-bearing O-linked sugars per molecule. O-Linked sugars were modified by treatment with alpha-mannosidase and N-linked sugars were removed using endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F. Analysis of conformational changes following deglycosylation suggests that O-linked sugars essentially contribute to the stabilization of glucoamylase domains. Modification of the carbohydrate component by adding 1-deoxymannojirimycin to the culture medium induced inhibition of alpha-mannosidases involved in the processing, leading to a more complete glycosylation and, consequently, to a higher stability of the enzyme.