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Mikhail P. KirpichnikovD.Sc (biological sciences), Professor, Member of the Academy of Sciences Head of department (Bioengineering department) Phone: E-mail: kirpichnikov@inbox.ru |
Selected publications
- (2017). Рекомбинантная продукция и исследование структуры белков человека Lypd6 и Lypd6b. Биоорг. хим. 43 (6), 620–630
[+]Белки человека Lypd6 и Lypd6b экспрессируются во многих тканях и имеют высокую степень гомо-
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логии аминокислотной последовательности (~ 54%). Оба белка в отличие от других белков семейства
Ly6/uPAR имеют дополнительные протяженные N- и С-концевые аминокислотные последователь-
ности, примыкающие к трехпетельному LU-домену, роль которых на данный момент не изучена. Из-
вестно, что Lypd6 увеличивает амплитуду токов кальция, индуцированных никотином в нейронах
тройничного нерва мыши. Lypd6 рыбки Danio rerio участвует в регуляции Wnt/β-катенин сигнального
каскада, и блокирование экспрессии гена lypd6 приводит к нарушению эмбрионального развития.
Экспрессия Lypd6b в ооцитах X. laevis повышает чувствительность никотиновых ацетилхолиновых ре-
цепторов к ацетилхолину и увеличивает скорость их десенситизации. Молекулярные механизмы дей-
ствия, равно как и пространственная структура Lypd6 и Lypd6b, до сих пор не изучены. В представ-
ленной работе получены и экспрессированы гены водорастворимых аналогов трехпетельных белков
человека Lypd6 и Lypd6b, не содержащих N-концевые последовательности (rLypd6 и rLypd6b), а также
Lypd6 с N-концевой последовательностью – N-rLypd6. Белки получали в виде цитоплазматических
телец включения в E. coli с последующей солюбилизацией в денатурирующих условиях и ренатураци-
ей. С целью оптимизации выхода рекомбинантных белков был проведен поиск условий ренатурации.
Анализ полученных препаратов N-rLypd6, rLypd6 и rLypd6b методами ЯМР-спектроскопии показал,
что N-rLypd6, возможно, не структурирован. Получение миллиграммовых количеств изотопно-ме-
ченных вариантов rLypd6 и rLypd6b позволило охарактеризовать вторичную структуру этих белков
и исследовать внутримолекулярную подвижность. Установлено, что rLypd6 и rLypd6b обладают струк-
турными элементами, характерными для трехпетельных белков семейства Ly6/uPAR с некоторыми
уникальными особенностями, такими как наличие дополнительной дисульфидной связи в третьей
петле и спиральных участков в первой и третьей петлях. - (2017). ПОДХОД “РАЗДЕЛЯЙ И ВЛАСТВУЙ” ДЛЯ СТРУКТУРНЫХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ МУЛЬТИДОМЕННЫХ ИОННЫХ КАНАЛОВ НА ПРИМЕРЕ ИЗОЛИРОВАННЫХ ПОТЕНЦИАЛ-ЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНЫХ ДОМЕНОВ КАНАЛОВ Kv2.1 И Nav1.4 ЧЕЛОВЕКА1. Биоорг. хим. 43 (6), 608–619 [+]
Потенциал-зависимые K+- и Na+-ионные каналы вовлечены в широкий спектр физиологических
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процессов, включая возбудимость сердечных, мышечных и нервных клеток, а также секрецию гор-
монов и нейромедиаторов. Эти каналы имеют модульную структуру и состоят из пяти мембранных
доменов: четырех потенциал-чувствительных доменов (ПЧД) и одного порового домена. На ПЧД раз-
личных каналов локализованы уникальные сайты связывания с лигандами, поэтому ПЧД рассматри-
ваются в качестве перспективных фармакологических мишеней. Модульная организация ионных ка-
налов позволяет ставить задачи по структурным ЯМР-исследованиям изолированных ПЧД отдельно
от поры. В настоящей работе рассмотрена возможность таких исследований на примере ПЧД канала
Kv2.1 человека и первого ПЧД канала Nav1.4 человека. Разработаны сопряженные системы бескле-
точного синтеза на основе бактериального экстракта S30 из E. coli, позволяющие получать милли-
граммовые количества препаратов ПЧД, включая меченые стабильными изотопами аналоги. Важным
этапом ЯМР-исследований является подбор мембраномоделирующей среды, обеспечивающей дол-
говременную стабильность природной структуры мембранного белка в растворе и высокое качество
ЯМР-спектров. Скрининг различных сред показал, что домены каналов Kv2.1 и Nav1.4 нестабильны
в средах, содержащих фосфолипиды: мицеллах короткоцепочечного липида DC7PC и липид-детер-
гентных бицеллах на основе цвиттер-ионных или анионных насыщенных липидов (DMPC и DMPG).
Показано, что оптимальной средой для структурных ЯМР-исследований являются смеси цвиттер-
ионного и слабокатионного детергентов (FOS-12/LDAO). Однако, несмотря на высокое качество
спектров, образец ПЧД канала Nav1.4 в окружении FOS-12/LDAO необратимо агрегировал в течение
нескольких дней. Вероятно, ПЧД K+- и Na+-каналов человека не являются полностью автономными
мембранными доменами и для их стабилизации необходимы контакты с другими доменами канала. - (2017). New insight into the mechanism of mitochondrial cytochrome c function. PLoS ONE 12 (5), e0178280
[+]We investigate functional role of the P76GTKMIFA83 fragment of the primary structure of cytochrome c. Based on the data obtained by the analysis of informational structure (ANIS), we propose a model of functioning of cytochrome c. According to this model, conformational rearrangements of the P76GTKMIFA83 loop fragment have a significant effect on conformational mobility of the heme. It is suggested that the conformational mobility of cytochrome c heme is responsible for its optimal orientation with respect to electron donor and acceptor within ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (complex III) and cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV), respectively, thus, ensuring electron transfer from complex III to complex IV. To validate the model, we design several mutant variants of horse cytochrome c with multiple substitutions of amino acid residues in the P76GTKMIFA83 sequence that reduce its ability to undergo conformational rearrangements. With this, we study the succinate-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome c oxidase activities of rat liver mitoplasts in the presence of mutant variants of cytochrome c. The electron transport activity of the mutant variants decreases to different extent. Resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) data demonstrate, that all mutant cytochromes possess heme with the higher degree of ruffling deformation, than that of the wild-type (WT) cytochrome c. The increase in the ruffled deformation of the heme of oxidized cytochromes correlated with the decrease in the electron transport rate of ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase (complex III). Besides, all mutant cytochromes have lower mobility of the pyrrol rings and methine bridges, than WT cytochrome c. We show that a decrease in electron transport activity in the mutant variants correlates with conformational changes and reduced mobility of heme porphyrin. This points to a significant role of the P76GTKMIFA83 fragment in the electron transport function of cytochrome c.
ID:1979 - (2016). Large-scale ATP-independent nucleosome unfolding by a histone chaperone. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. , [+]
DNA accessibility to regulatory proteins is substantially influenced by nucleosome structure and dynamics. The facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex increases the accessibility of nucleosomal DNA, but the mechanism and extent of its nucleosome reorganization activity are unknown. Here we determined the effects of FACT from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on single nucleosomes by using single-particle Förster resonance energy transfer (spFRET) microscopy. FACT binding results in dramatic ATP-independent, symmetrical and reversible DNA uncoiling that affects at least 70% of the DNA within a nucleosome, occurs without apparent loss of histones and proceeds via an 'all-or-none' mechanism. A mutated version of FACT is defective in uncoiling, and a histone mutation that suppresses phenotypes caused by this FACT mutation in vivo restores the uncoiling activity in vitro. Thus, FACT-dependent nucleosome unfolding modulates the accessibility of nucleosomal DNA, and this activity is an important function of FACT in vivo.
ID:1625 - (2016). Femtosecond spectroscopic study of photochromic reactions of bacteriorhodopsin and visual rhodopsin. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B, Biol. 164, 296–305 [+]
Photochromic ultrafast reactions of bacteriorhodopsin (H. salinarum) and bovine rhodopsin were conducted with a femtosecond two-pump probe pulse setup with the time resolution of 20-25fs. The dynamics of the forward and reverse photochemical reactions for both retinal-containing proteins was compared. It is demonstrated that when retinal-containing proteins are excited by femtosecond pulses, dynamics pattern of the vibrational coherent wave packets in the course of the reaction is different for bacteriorhodopsin and visual rhodopsin. As shown in these studies, the low-frequencies that form a wave packets experimentally observed in the dynamics of primary products formation as a result of retinal photoisomerization have different intensities and are clearer for bovine rhodopsin. Photo-reversible reactions for both retinal proteins were performed from the stage of the relatively stable photointermediates that appear within 3-5ps after the light pulse impact. It is demonstrated that the efficiency of the reverse phototransition K-form→bacteriorhodopsin is almost five-fold higher than that of the Batho-intermediate→visual rhodopsin phototransition. The results obtained indicate that in the course of evolution the intramolecular mechanism of the chromophore-protein interaction in visual rhodopsin becomes more perfect and specific. The decrease in the probability of the reverse chromophore photoisomerization (all-trans→11-cis retinal) in primary photo-induced rhodopsin products causes an increase in the efficiency of the photoreception process.
ID:1612 - (2016). Electrogenic steps of light-driven proton transport in ESR, a retinal protein from Exiguobacterium sibiricum. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1857 (11), 1741–1750 [+]
A retinal protein from Exiguobacterium sibiricum (ESR) functions as a light-driven proton pump. Unlike other proton pumps, it contains Lys96 instead of a usual carboxylic residue in the internal proton donor site. Nevertheless, the reprotonation of the Schiff base occurs fast, indicating that Lys96 facilitates proton transfer from the bulk. In this study we examined kinetics of light-induced transmembrane electrical potential difference, ΔΨ, generated in proteoliposomes reconstituted with ESR. We show that total magnitude of ΔΨ is comparable to that produced by bacteriorhodopsin but its kinetic components and their pH dependence are substantially different. The results are in agreement with the earlier finding that proton uptake precedes reprotonation of the Schiff base in ESR, suggesting that Lys96 is unprotonated in the initial state and gains a proton transiently in the photocycle. The electrogenic phases and the photocycle transitions related to proton transfer from the bulk to the Schiff base are pH dependent. At neutral pH, they occur with τ 0.5ms and 4.5ms. At alkaline pH, the fast component ceases and Schiff base reprotonation slows. At pH8.4, a spectrally silent electrogenic component with τ 0.25ms is detected, which can be attributed to proton transfer from the bulk to Lys96. At pH5.1, the amplitude of ΔΨ decreases 10 fold, reflecting a decreased yield and rate of proton transfer, apparently from protonation of the acceptor (Asp85-His57 pair) in the initial state. The features of the photoelectric potential generation correlate with the ESR structure and proposed mechanism of proton transfer.
ID:1662 - (2016). Towards universal approach for bacterial production of three-finger Ly6/uPAR proteins: Case study of cytotoxin I from cobra N. oxiana. Protein Expr. Purif. 130, 13–20 [+]
Cytotoxins or cardiotoxins is a group of polycationic toxins from cobra venom belonging to the 'three-finger' protein superfamily (Ly6/uPAR family) which includes small β-structural proteins (60-90 residues) with high disulfide bond content (4-5 disulfides). Due to a high cytotoxic activity for cancer cells, cytotoxins are considered as potential anticancer agents. Development of the high-throughput production methods is required for the prospective applications of cytotoxins. Here, efficient approach for bacterial production of recombinant analogue of cytotoxin I from N. oxiana containing additional N-terminal Met-residue (rCTX1) was developed. rCTX1 was produced in the form of E. coli inclusion bodies. Refolding in optimized conditions provided ∼6 mg of correctly folded protein from 1 L of bacterial culture. Cytotoxicity of rCTX1 for C6 rat glioma cells was found to be similar to the activity of wild type CTX1. The milligram quantities of (13)C,(15)N-labeled rCTX1 were obtained. NMR study confirmed the similarity of the spatial structures of recombinant and wild-type toxins. Additional Met residue does not perturb the overall structure of the three-finger core. The analysis of available data for different Ly6/uPAR proteins of snake and human origin revealed that efficiency of their folding in vitro is correlated with the number of proline residues in the third loop and the surface area of hydrophobic residues buried within the protein interior. The obtained data indicate that hydrophobic core is important for the folding of proteins with high disulfide bond content. Developed expression method opens new possibilities for structure-function studies of CTX1 and other related three-finger proteins.
ID:1599 - (2016). Complexes of Peptide Blockers with Kv1.6 Pore Domain: Molecular Modeling and Studies with KcsA-Kv1.6 Channel. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol , [+]
Potassium voltage-gated Kv1.6 channel, which is distributed primarily in neurons of central and peripheral nervous systems, is of significant physiological importance. To date, several high-affinity Kv1.6-channel blockers are known, but the lack of selective ones among them hampers the studies of tissue localization and functioning of Kv1.6 channels. Here we present an approach to advanced understanding of interactions of peptide toxin blockers with a Kv1.6 pore. It combines molecular modeling studies and an application of a new bioengineering system based on a KcsA-Kv1.6 hybrid channel for the quantitative fluorescent analysis of blocker-channel interactions. Using this system we demonstrate that peptide toxins agitoxin 2, kaliotoxin1 and OSK1 have similar high affinity to the extracellular vestibule of the K(+)-conducting pore of Kv1.6, hetlaxin is a low-affinity ligand, whereas margatoxin and scyllatoxin do not bind to Kv1.6 pore. Binding of toxins to Kv1.6 pore has considerable inverse dependence on the ionic strength. Model structures of KcsA-Kv1.6 and Kv1.6 complexes with agitoxin 2, kaliotoxin 1 and OSK1 were obtained using homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulation. Interaction interfaces, which are formed by 15-19 toxin residues and 10 channel residues, are described and compared. Specific sites of Kv1.6 pore recognition are identified for targeting of peptide blockers. Analysis of interactions between agitoxin 2 derivatives with point mutations (S7K, S11G, L19S, R31G) and KcsA-Kv1.6 confirms reliability of the calculated complex structure.
ID:1611 - (2016). Central loop of non-conventional toxin WTX from Naja kaouthia is important for interaction with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Toxicon 119, 274–9 [+]
'Three-finger' toxin WTX from Naja kaouthia interacts with nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs and mAChRs). Mutagenesis and competition experiments with (125)I-α-bungarotoxin revealed that Arg31 and Arg32 residues from the WTX loop II are important for binding to Torpedo californica and human α7 nAChRs. Computer modeling suggested that loop II occupies the orthosteric binding site at α7 nAChR. The similar toxin interface was previously described as a major determinant of allosteric interactions with mAChRs.
ID:1598 - (2016). Secreted Isoform of Human Lynx1 (SLURP-2): Spatial Structure and Pharmacology of Interactions with Different Types of Acetylcholine Receptors. Sci Rep 6, 30698 [+]
Human-secreted Ly-6/uPAR-related protein-2 (SLURP-2) regulates the growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. Previously, the auto/paracrine activity of SLURP-2 was considered to be mediated via its interaction with the α3β2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here, we describe the structure and pharmacology of a recombinant analogue of SLURP-2. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a 'three-finger' fold of SLURP-2 with a conserved β-structural core and three protruding loops. Affinity purification using cortical extracts revealed that SLURP-2 could interact with the α3, α4, α5, α7, β2, and β4 nAChR subunits, revealing its broader pharmacological profile. SLURP-2 inhibits acetylcholine-evoked currents at α4β2 and α3β2-nAChRs (IC50 ~0.17 and >3 μM, respectively) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In contrast, at α7-nAChRs, SLURP-2 significantly enhances acetylcholine-evoked currents at concentrations <1 μM but induces inhibition at higher concentrations. SLURP-2 allosterically interacts with human M1 and M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) that are overexpressed in CHO cells. SLURP-2 was found to promote the proliferation of human oral keratinocytes via interactions with α3β2-nAChRs, while it inhibited cell growth via α7-nAChRs. SLURP-2/mAChRs interactions are also probably involved in the control of keratinocyte growth. Computer modeling revealed possible SLURP-2 binding to the 'classical' orthosteric agonist/antagonist binding sites at α7 and α3β2-nAChRs.
ID:1597 - (2016). Human Secreted Ly-6/uPAR Related Protein-1 (SLURP-1) Is a Selective Allosteric Antagonist of α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor. PLoS ONE 11 (2), e0149733 [+]
SLURP-1 is a secreted toxin-like Ly-6/uPAR protein found in epithelium, sensory neurons and immune cells. Point mutations in the slurp-1 gene cause the autosomal inflammation skin disease Mal de Meleda. SLURP-1 is considered an autocrine/paracrine hormone that regulates growth and differentiation of keratinocytes and controls inflammation and malignant cell transformation. The majority of previous studies of SLURP-1 have been made using fusion constructs containing, in addition to the native protein, extra polypeptide sequences. Here we describe the activity and pharmacological profile of a recombinant analogue of human SLURP-1 (rSLURP-1) differing from the native protein only by one additional N-terminal Met residue. rSLURP-1 significantly inhibited proliferation (up to ~ 40%, EC50 ~ 4 nM) of human oral keratinocytes (Het-1A cells). Application of mecamylamine and atropine,-non-selective inhibitors of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, respectively, and anti-α7-nAChRs antibodies revealed α7 type nAChRs as an rSLURP-1 target in keratinocytes. Using affinity purification from human cortical extracts, we confirmed that rSLURP-1 binds selectively to the α7-nAChRs. Exposure of Xenopus oocytes expressing α7-nAChRs to rSLURP-1 caused a significant non-competitive inhibition of the response to acetylcholine (up to ~ 70%, IC50 ~ 1 μM). It was shown that rSLURP-1 binds to α7-nAChRs overexpressed in GH4Cl cells, but does not compete with 125I-α-bungarotoxin for binding to the receptor. These findings imply an allosteric antagonist-like mode of SLURP-1 interaction with α7-nAChRs outside the classical ligand-binding site. Contrary to rSLURP-1, other inhibitors of α7-nAChRs (mecamylamine, α-bungarotoxin and Lynx1) did not suppress the proliferation of keratinocytes. Moreover, the co-application of α-bungarotoxin with rSLURP-1 did not influence antiproliferative activity of the latter. This supports the hypothesis that the antiproliferative activity of SLURP-1 is related to 'metabotropic' signaling pathway through α7-nAChR, that activates intracellular signaling cascades without opening the receptor channel.
ID:1420 - (2016). Fluorescent protein-scorpion toxin chimera is a convenient molecular tool for studies of potassium channels. Sci Rep 6, 33314 [+]
Ion channels play a central role in a host of physiological and pathological processes and are the second largest target for existing drugs. There is an increasing need for reliable tools to detect and visualize particular ion channels, but existing solutions suffer from a number of limitations such as high price, poor specificity, and complicated protocols. As an alternative, we produced recombinant chimeric constructs (FP-Tx) consisting of fluorescent proteins (FP) fused with potassium channel toxins from scorpion venom (Tx). In particular, we used two FP, eGFP and TagRFP, and two Tx, OSK1 and AgTx2, to create eGFP-OSK1 and RFP-AgTx2. We show that these chimeras largely retain the high affinity of natural toxins and display selectivity to particular ion channel subtypes. FP-Tx are displaced by other potassium channel blockers and can be used as an imaging tool in ion channel ligand screening setups. We believe FP-Tx chimeras represent a new efficient molecular tool for neurobiology.
ID:1561 - (2015). Anion-selective channelrhodopsin expressed in neuronal cell culture and in vivo in murine brain: Light-induced inhibition of generation of action potentials. Dokl. Biochem. Biophys. 465 (1), 424–7 [+]
Anionic channelrhodopsin slow ChloC was expressed in the culture of nerve cells and in vivo in mouse brain. We demonstrated ability of slow ChloC to suppress effectively the activity of the neuron in response to the illumination with the visible light. It has been shown for a first time that slow ChloC works equally efficiently in both neuronal culture and in the whole brain being expressed in vivo. Thus, slow ChloC could be considered as an effective optogenetic tool capable in response to light stimulation to inhibit the generation of action potentials in the neuron.
ID:1478 - (2015). Structural Insight into Specificity of Interactions between Nonconventional Three-finger Weak Toxin from Naja kaouthia (WTX) and Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors. J. Biol. Chem. 290 (39), 23616–30 [+]
Weak toxin from Naja kaouthia (WTX) belongs to the group of nonconventional "three-finger" snake neurotoxins. It irreversibly inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and allosterically interacts with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). Using site-directed mutagenesis, NMR spectroscopy, and computer modeling, we investigated the recombinant mutant WTX analogue (rWTX) which, compared with the native toxin, has an additional N-terminal methionine residue. In comparison with the wild-type toxin, rWTX demonstrated an altered pharmacological profile, decreased binding of orthosteric antagonist N-methylscopolamine to human M1- and M2-mAChRs, and increased antagonist binding to M3-mAChR. Positively charged arginine residues located in the flexible loop II were found to be crucial for rWTX interactions with all types of mAChR. Computer modeling suggested that the rWTX loop II protrudes to the M1-mAChR allosteric ligand-binding site blocking the entrance to the orthosteric site. In contrast, toxin interacts with M3-mAChR by loop II without penetration into the allosteric site. Data obtained provide new structural insight into the target-specific allosteric regulation of mAChRs by "three-finger" snake neurotoxins.
ID:1394 - (2015). Mutations Enhancing Selectivity of Antitumor Cytokine TRAIL to DR5 Receptor Increase Its Cytotoxicity against Tumor Cells. Biochemistry Mosc. 80 (8), 1080–91 [+]
Tumor necrosis factor superfamily cytokine TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) induces apoptosis in tumor cells by binding to death receptors DR4 and DR5 without affecting normal cells. However, the therapeutic use of TRAIL is limited, because many tumor cells are resistant to it. The resistance is partially related to interaction of TRAIL with the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2, which do not trigger the apoptotic signal and inhibit signaling of death receptors. Previously, we designed a unique DR5-specific TRAIL mutant variant DR5-B, which binds to DR5 receptor as effectively as the original cytokine, but has practically no interaction with DR4 and DcR1 receptors, and its affinity for DcR2 is reduced 400-fold. In the present work, the cytotoxity of TRAIL and DR5-B was analyzed on 12 different tumor cell lines and two types of normal cells. In nine of 12 tumor cell lines, DR5-B killed 1.5-5.0 times more tumor cells than TRAIL, and it did not exhibit toxicity towards normal cells. Chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and bortezomib augmented the effect of both TRAIL variants, and the enhancing effect was more pronounced for DR5-B. Half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) for DR5-B in combination with chemotherapeutic agents were 1.5-10.0 times lower than for wild-type TRAIL. Thus, DR5-B is a promising candidate both for monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of TRAIL-resistant tumors.
ID:1482 - (2015). Variability of Potassium Channel Blockers in Mesobuthus eupeus Scorpion Venom with Focus on Kv1.1: AN INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC STUDY. J. Biol. Chem. 290 (19), 12195–209 [+]
The lesser Asian scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus (Buthidae) is one of the most widely spread and dispersed species of the Mesobuthus genus, and its venom is actively studied. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of active compounds is still under-investigated due to the high complexity of this venom. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of putative potassium channel toxins (KTxs) from the cDNA library of M. eupeus venom glands, and we compare the deduced KTx structures with peptides purified from the venom. For the transcriptome analysis, we used conventional tools as well as a search for structural motifs characteristic of scorpion venom components in the form of regular expressions. We found 59 candidate KTxs distributed in 30 subfamilies and presenting the cysteine-stabilized α/β and inhibitor cystine knot types of fold. M. eupeus venom was then separated to individual components by multistage chromatography. A facile fluorescent system based on the expression of the KcsA-Kv1.1 hybrid channels in Escherichia coli and utilization of a labeled scorpion toxin was elaborated and applied to follow Kv1.1 pore binding activity during venom separation. As a result, eight high affinity Kv1.1 channel blockers were identified, including five novel peptides, which extend the panel of potential pharmacologically important Kv1 ligands. Activity of the new peptides against rat Kv1.1 channel was confirmed (IC50 in the range of 1-780 nm) by the two-electrode voltage clamp technique using a standard Xenopus oocyte system. Our integrated approach is of general utility and efficiency to mine natural venoms for KTxs.
ID:1310 - (2014). Combination of TRAIL with bortezomib shifted apoptotic signaling from DR4 to DR5 death receptor by selective internalization and degradation of DR4. PLoS ONE 9 (10), e109756 [+]
TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) mediates apoptosis in cancer cells through death receptors DR4 and DR5 preferring often one receptor over another in the cells expressing both receptors. Receptor selective mutant variants of TRAIL and agonistic antibodies against DR4 and DR5 are highly promising anticancer agents. Here using DR5 specific mutant variant of TRAIL - DR5-B we have demonstrated for the first time that the sensitivity of cancer cells can be shifted from one TRAIL death receptor to another during co-treatment with anticancer drugs. First we have studied the contribution of DR4 and DR5 in HCT116 p53+/+ and HCT116 p53−/− cells and demonstrated that in HCT116 p53+/+ cells the both death receptors are involved in TRAIL-induced cell death while in HCT116 p53−/− cells prevailed DR4 signaling. The expression of death (DR4 and DR5) as well as decoy (DcR1 and DcR2) receptors was upregulated in the both cell lines either by TRAIL or by bortezomib. However, combined treatment of cells with two drugs induced strong time-dependent and p53-independent internalization and further lysosomal degradation of DR4 receptor. Interestingly DR5-B variant of TRAIL which do not bind with DR4 receptor also induced elimination of DR4 from cell surface in combination with bortezomib indicating the ligand-independent mechanism of the receptor internalization. Eliminatory internalization of DR4 resulted in activation of DR5 receptor thus DR4-dependent HCT116 p53−/− cells became highly sensitive to DR5-B in time-dependent manner. Internalization and degradation of DR4 receptor depended on activation of caspases as well as of lysosomal activity as it was completely inhibited by Z-VAD-FMK, E-64 and Baf-A1. In light of our findings, it is important to explore carefully which of the death receptors is active, when sensitizing drugs are combined with agonistic antibodies to the death receptors or receptor selective variants of TRAIL to enhance cancer treatment efficiency.
ID:1296 - (2014). Structural and functional characterization of alternative transmembrane domain conformations in VEGF receptor 2 activation. Structure 22 (8), 1077–89 [+]
Transmembrane signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) entails ligand-mediated dimerization and structural rearrangement of the extracellular domains. RTK activation also depends on the specific orientation of the transmembrane domain (TMD) helices, as suggested by pathogenic, constitutively active RTK mutants. Such mutant TMDs carry polar amino acids promoting stable transmembrane helix dimerization, which is essential for kinase activation. We investigated the effect of polar amino acids introduced into the TMD of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, regulating blood vessel homeostasis. Two mutants showed constitutive kinase activity, suggesting that precise TMD orientation is mandatory for kinase activation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that TMD helices in activated constructs were rotated by 180° relative to the interface of the wild-type conformation, confirming that ligand-mediated receptor activation indeed results from transmembrane helix rearrangement. A molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the transmembrane helix arrangement of wild-type and mutant TMDs revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
ID:1104 - (2014). Vietnamese Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom: evidence for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity and isolation of new polypeptide toxin acting on Kv1.3 potassium channel. Toxicon 77, 40–8 [+]
The scorpion Heterometrus laoticus (Scorpionidae) inhabits Indochinese peninsula and is widely distributed in South-West Vietnam. Since no human fatalities caused by H. laoticus stings were reported, no systematic characterization of the venom was earlier done. In this study we report on biological activity of the venom from H. laoticus caught in Vietnamese province An Giang. The venom manifested a very low acute toxicity with LD50 of about 190 mg/kg body weight in mice at subcutaneous (s.c.) injection and 12 mg/kg at intravenous injection. The venom analgesic effects using tail immersion and writhing tests as well as anti-inflammatory effect using carrageenan test were analyzed at doses of 9.5 and 19 mg/kg at s.c. injections. It was found that at two doses tested H. laoticus venom showed both anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity. The venom was fractionated by means of gel-filtration and reversed-phase HPLC. As a result several polypeptide toxins were isolated and new toxin hetlaxin was identified. Its amino acid sequence was determined and binding to the extracellular vestibule of the K⁺-conducting pore of Kv1.1 and Kv1.3 potassium channels was studied. Hetlaxin belongs to the scorpion alpha-toxin family and is the first toxin isolated from H. laoticus venom which possesses high affinity (K(i) 59 nM) to Kv1.3 potassium channel.
ID:1082 - (2013). Heterogeneous catalysis on the phage surface: Display of active human enteropeptidase. Biochimie 95 (11), 2076–81 [+]
ID:924 - (2013). NMR-based approach to measure the free energy of transmembrane helix-helix interactions. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1838 (1PB), 164–172 [+]
Knowledge of the energetic parameters of transmembrane helix-helix interactions is necessary for the establishment of a structure-energy relationship for α-helical membrane domains. A number of techniques have been developed to measure the free energies of dimerization and oligomerization of transmembrane α-helices, and all of these have their advantages and drawbacks. In this study we propose a methodology to determine the magnitudes of the free energy of interactions between transmembrane helices in detergent micelles. The suggested approach employs solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the population of the oligomeric states of the transmembrane domains and introduces a new formalism to describe the oligomerization equilibrium, which is based on the assumption that both the dimerization of the transmembrane domains and the dissociation of the dimer can occur only upon the collision of detergent micelles. The technique has three major advantages compared with other existing approaches: it may be used to analyze both weak and relatively strong dimerization/oligomerization processes, it works well for the analysis of complex equilibria, e.g. when monomer, dimer and high-order oligomer populations are simultaneously present in the solution, and it can simultaneously yield both structural and energetic characteristics of the helix-helix interaction under study. The proposed methodology was applied to investigate the oligomerization process of transmembrane domains of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and vascular endothelium growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and allowed the measurement of the free energy of dimerization of both of these objects. In addition the proposed method was able to describe the multi-state oligomerization process of the VEGFR2 transmembrane domain.
ID:967 - (2013). Structural insights into the proton pumping by unusual proteorhodopsin from nonmarine bacteria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 110 (31), 12631–6 [+]
Light-driven proton pumps are present in many organisms. Here, we present a high-resolution structure of a proteorhodopsin from a permafrost bacterium, Exiguobacterium sibiricum rhodopsin (ESR). Contrary to the proton pumps of known structure, ESR possesses three unique features. First, ESR's proton donor is a lysine side chain that is situated very close to the bulk solvent. Second, the α-helical structure in the middle of the helix F is replaced by 3(10)- and π-helix-like elements that are stabilized by the Trp-154 and Asn-224 side chains. This feature is characteristic for the proteorhodopsin family of proteins. Third, the proton release region is connected to the bulk solvent by a chain of water molecules already in the ground state. Despite these peculiarities, the positions of water molecule and amino acid side chains in the immediate Schiff base vicinity are very well conserved. These features make ESR a very unusual proton pump. The presented structure sheds light on the large family of proteorhodopsins, for which structural information was not available previously.
ID:1260 - (2013). Peptaibol antiamoebin I: spatial structure, backbone dynamics, interaction with bicelles and lipid-protein nanodiscs, and pore formation in context of barrel-stave model. Chem. Biodivers. 10 (5), 838–63 [+]
Antiamoebin I (Aam-I) is a membrane-active peptaibol antibiotic isolated from fungal species belonging to the genera Cephalosporium, Emericellopsis, Gliocladium, and Stilbella. In comparison with other 16-amino acid-residue peptaibols, e.g., zervamicin IIB (Zrv-IIB), Aam-I possesses relatively weak biological and channel-forming activities. In MeOH solution, Aam-I demonstrates fast cooperative transitions between right-handed and left-handed helical conformation of the N-terminal (1-8) region. We studied Aam-I spatial structure and backbone dynamics in the membrane-mimicking environment (DMPC/DHPC bicelles)(1) ) by heteronuclear (1) H,(13) C,(15) N-NMR spectroscopy. Interaction with the bicelles stabilizes the Aam-I right-handed helical conformation retaining significant intramolecular mobility on the ms-μs time scale. Extensive ms-μs dynamics were also detected in the DPC and DHPC micelles and DOPG nanodiscs. In contrast, Zrv-IIB in the DPC micelles demonstrates appreciably lesser mobility on the μs-ms time scale. Titration with Mn(2+) and 16-doxylstearate paramagnetic probes revealed Aam-I binding to the bicelle surface with the N-terminus slightly immersed into hydrocarbon region. Fluctuations of the Aam-I helix between surface-bound and transmembrane (TM) state were observed in the nanodisc membranes formed from the short-chain (diC12 : 0) DLPC/DLPG lipids. All the obtained experimental data are in agreement with the barrel-stave model of TM pore formation, similarly to the mechanism proposed for Zrv-IIB and other peptaibols. The observed extensive intramolecular dynamics explains the relatively low activity of Aam-I.
ID:978 - (2013). Lipid-protein nanodiscs promote in vitro folding of transmembrane domains of multi-helical and multimeric membrane proteins. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1828 (2), 776–84 [+]
Production of helical integral membrane proteins (IMPs) in a folded state is a necessary prerequisite for their functional and structural studies. In many cases large-scale expression of IMPs in cell-based and cell-free systems results in misfolded proteins, which should be refolded in vitro. Here using examples of the bacteriorhodopsin ESR from Exiguobacterium sibiricum and full-length homotetrameric K(+) channel KcsA from Streptomyces lividans we found that the efficient in vitro folding of the transmembrane domains of the polytopic and multimeric IMPs could be achieved during the protein encapsulation into the reconstructed high-density lipoprotein particles, also known as lipid-protein nanodiscs. In this case the self-assembly of the IMP/nanodisc complexes from a mixture containing apolipoprotein, lipids and the partially denatured protein solubilized in a harsh detergent induces the folding of the transmembrane domains. The obtained folding yields showed significant dependence on the properties of lipids used for nanodisc formation. The largest recovery of the spectroscopically active ESR (~60%) from the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was achieved in the nanodiscs containing anionic saturated lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPG) and was approximately twice lower in the zwitterionic DMPC lipid. The reassembly of tetrameric KcsA from the acid-dissociated monomer solubilized in SDS was the most efficient (~80%) in the nanodiscs containing zwitterionic unsaturated lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). The charged and saturated lipids provided lower tetramer quantities, and the lowest yield (<20%) was observed in DMPC. The overall yield of the ESR and KcsA folding was mainly restricted by the efficiency of the protein encapsulation into the nanodiscs.
ID:802 - (2013). Fluorescent system based on bacterial expression of hybrid KcsA channels designed for Kv1.3 ligand screening and study. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry , [+]
Human voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 is an important pharmacological target for the treatment of autoimmune and metabolic diseases. Increasing clinical demands stipulate an active search for efficient and selective Kv1.3 blockers. Here we present a new, reliable, and easy-to-use analytical system designed to seek for and study Kv1.3 ligands that bind to the extracellular vestibule of the K(+)-conducting pore. It is based on Escherichia coli spheroplasts with the hybrid protein KcsA-Kv1.3 embedded into the membrane, fluorescently labeled Kv1.3 blocker agitoxin-2, and confocal laser scanning microscopy as a detection method. This system is a powerful alternative to radioligand and patch-clamp techniques. It enables one to search for Kv1.3 ligands both among individual compounds and in complex mixtures, as well as to characterize their affinity to Kv1.3 channel using the "mix and read" mode. To demonstrate the potential of the system, we performed characterization of several known Kv1.3 ligands, tested nine spider venoms for the presence of Kv1.3 ligands, and conducted guided purification of a channel blocker from scorpion venom.
ID:782 - (2012). Receptor-binding domain of ephrin-A1: production in bacterial expression system and activity. Biochemistry Mosc. 77 (12), 1387–94 [+]
Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands, the ephrins, perform an important regulatory function in tissue organization, as well as participate in malignant transformation of cells. Ephrin-A1, a ligand of A class Eph receptors, is a modulator of tumor growth and progression, and the mechanism of its action needs detailed investigation. Here we report on the development of a system for bacterial expression of an ephrin-A1 receptor-binding domain (eA1), a procedure for its purification, and its renaturation with final yield of 50 mg/liter of culture. Functional activity of eA1 was confirmed by immunoblotting, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. It is shown that monomeric non-glycosylated receptor-binding domain of ephrin-A1 is able to activate cellular EphA2 receptors, stimulating their phosphorylation. Ligand eA1 can be used to study the features of ephrin-A1 interactions with different A class Eph receptors. The created expression cassette is suitable for the development of ligands with increased activity and selectivity and experimental systems for the delivery of cytotoxins into tumor cells that overexpress EphA2 or other class A Eph receptors.
ID:1479 - (2012). Dissecting structural basis of the unique substrate selectivity of human enteropeptidase catalytic subunit. J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 30 (1), 62–73 [+]
Enteropeptidase is a key enzyme in the digestion system of higher animals. It initiates enzymatic cascade cleaving trypsinogen activation peptide after a unique sequence DDDDK. Recently, we have found specific activity of human enteropeptidase catalytic subunit (L-HEP) being significantly higher than that of its bovine ortholog (L-BEP). Moreover, we have discovered that L-HEP hydrolyzed several nonspecific peptidic substrates. In this work, we aimed to further characterize species-specific enteropeptidase activities and to reveal their structural basis. First, we compared hydrolysis of peptides and proteins lacking DDDDK sequence by L-HEP and L-BEP. In each case human enzyme was more efficient, with the highest hydrolysis rate observed for substrates with a large hydrophobic residue in P2-position. Computer modeling suggested enzyme exosite residues 96 (Arg in L-HEP, Lys in L-BEP) and 219 (Lys in L-HEP, Gln in L-BEP) to be responsible for these differences in enteropeptidase catalytic activity. Indeed, human-to-bovine mutations Arg96Lys, Lys219Gln shifted catalytic properties of L-HEP toward those of L-BEP. This effect was amplified in case of the double mutation Arg96Lys/Lys219Gln, but still did not cover the full difference in catalytic activities of human and bovine enzymes. To find a missing link, we studied monopeptide benzyl-arginine-β-naphthylamide hydrolysis. L-HEP catalyzed it with an order lower K (m) than L-BEP, suggesting the monopeptide-binding S1 site input into catalytic distinction between two enteropeptidase species. Together, our findings suggest structural basis of the unique catalytic properties of human enteropeptidase and instigate further studies of its tentative physiological and pathological roles.
ID:809 - (2010). A new hybrid protein for production of recombinant bacteriorhodopsin in Escherichia coli. J. Biotechnol. 147 (3-4), 145–50 [+]
ID:933 - (2009). Bacterial synthesis, purification, and solubilization of membrane protein KCNE3, a regulator of voltage-gated potassium channels. Biochemistry Mosc. 74 (12), 1344–9 [+]
An efficient method is described for production of membrane protein KCNE3 and its isotope labeled derivatives ((15)N-, (15)N-/13C-) in amounts sufficient for structural-functional investigations. The purified protein preparation within different detergent micelles was characterized using dynamic light scattering, CD spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. It is shown that within DPC/LDAO micelles the protein is in monomeric form and acquires mainly alpha-helical conformation. The existence of cross-peaks for all glycines of the (15)N-HSQC NMR spectra as well as relatively small line widths (~20 Hz) confirm the high quality of the preparation and the possibility of obtaining structural-dynamic information on KCNE3 by high resolution heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy.
ID:273 - (2009). Lipid-protein nanodiscs: possible application in high-resolution NMR investigations of membrane proteins and membrane-active peptides. Biochemistry Mosc. 74 (7), 756–65 [+]
High-resolution NMR is shown to be applicable for investigation of membrane proteins and membrane-active peptides embedded into lipid-protein nanodiscs (LPNs). (15)N-Labeled K+-channel from Streptomyces lividans (KcsA) and the antibiotic antiamoebin I from Emericellopsis minima (Aam-I) were embedded in LPNs of different lipid composition. Formation of stable complexes undergoing isotropic motion in solution was confirmed by size-exclusion chromatography and (31)P-NMR spectroscopy. The 2D 1H-(15)N-correlation spectra were recorded for KcsA in the complex with LPN containing DMPC and for Aam-I in LPNs based on DOPG, DLPC, DMPC, and POPC. The spectra recorded were compared with those in detergent-containing micelles and small bicelles commonly used in high-resolution NMR spectroscopy of membrane proteins. The spectra recorded in LPN environments demonstrated similar signal dispersion but significantly increased (1)H(N) line width. The spectra of Aam-I embedded in LPNs containing phosphatidylcholine showed significant selective line broadening, thus suggesting exchange process(es) between several membrane-bound states of the peptide. (15)N relaxation rates were measured to obtain the effective rotational correlation time of the Aam-I molecule. The obtained value (approximately 40 nsec at 45 degrees C) is indicative of additional peptide motions within the Aam-I/LPN complex.
ID:353 - (2009). Recombinant Kv channels at the membrane of Escherichia coli bind specifically agitoxin2. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 4 (1), 83–91 [+]
Potassium voltage-gated channels (Kv) are considered as molecular targets in a number of serious neuronal, immune, and cardiac disorders. Search for efficient low-molecular weight modulators of Kv channel function provides a basis for the development of an appropriate therapy for various Kv-mediated diseases. We report here on a new bacterial cell-based system, which is suitable for study of interactions between ligands and ligand-binding sites of eukaryotic Kv1.3 and Kv1.1 channels. To create this system, high-level expression of KcsA-Kv1.3 and KcsA-Kv1.1 hybrid proteins (ligand-binding sites of Kv1.3 or Kv1.1 fused with prokaryotic KcsA potassium channel) was achieved in the plasma membrane of Escherichia coli. An efficient procedure of E. coli conversion to intact spheroplasts was developed. We demonstrate that fluorescently labeled agitoxin 2 binds specifically to high-affinity and lower-affinity sites of KcsA-Kv1.3 and KcsA-Kv1.1, respectively, at the membrane of spheroplasts. Number of binding sites per cell is estimated to be (1.0 +/- 0.6) x 10(5) and (0.3 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) for KcsA-Kv1.3- and KcsA-Kv1.1-presenting cells, respectively, that allows reliable detection of ligand-receptor interactions by confocal laser scanning microscopy. This bacterial cell-based system is intended for screening of ligands to membrane-embedded pharmaceutical targets.
ID:786 - (2009). Construction of the plasmid-free strain for human growth hormone production. Biochimie 128-129, 148–53 [+]
The E. coli strain, overproducing human growth hormone (hGH) was made by integration of the hGH gene under the control of T7 promoter into the chromosomal LacZ gene of BL21(DE3) via lambda Red recombineering. The strain gave higher productivity (50 mg·L(-1)·OD550(-1)) and better growth characteristics than the corresponding strain in which the same hGH expression cassette was placed in a plasmid. The protein produced by the plasmid-free strain was purified and characterized to be hGH. The results demonstrates that a plasmid-free recombinant strain having a single-copy gene expression cassette in the chromosome could provide better gene activity regulation, higher productivity, superior growth characteristics, as well as more stringent control of the gene sequence invariance than a plasmid-based strain.
ID:1669 - (2008). Spatial structure of the dimeric transmembrane domain of the growth factor receptor ErbB2 presumably corresponding to the receptor active state. J. Biol. Chem. 283 (11), 6950–6 [+]
Proper lateral dimerization of the transmembrane domains of receptor tyrosine kinases is required for biochemical signal transduction across the plasma membrane. The spatial structure of the dimeric transmembrane domain of the growth factor receptor ErbB2 embedded into lipid bicelles was obtained by solution NMR, followed by molecular dynamics relaxation in an explicit lipid bilayer. ErbB2 transmembrane segments associate in a right-handed alpha-helical bundle through the N-terminal tandem GG4-like motif Thr652-X3-Ser656-X3-Gly660, providing an explanation for the pathogenic power of some oncogenic mutations.
ID:314 - (2008). Lipid-protein nanoscale bilayers: a versatile medium for NMR investigations of membrane proteins and membrane-active peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130 (7), 2140–1 ID:356
- (2005). Comparative analysis of proapoptotic activity of cytochrome c mutants in living cells. Apoptosis 10 (4), 797–808 [+]
A non-traumatic electroporation procedure was developed to load exogenous cytochrome c into the cytoplasm and to study the apoptotic effect of cytochrome c, its K72-substitued mutants and "yeast --> horse" hybrid cytochrome c in living WEHI-3 cells. The minimum apoptosis-activating intracellular concentration of horse heart cytochrome c was estimated to be 2.7 +/- 0.5 microM (47 +/- 9 fg/cell). The equieffective concentrations of the K72A-, K72E- and K72L-substituted mutants of cytochrome c were five-, 15- and 70-fold higher. The "yeast --> horse" hybrid created by introducing S2D, K4E, A7K, T8K, and K11V substitutions (horse protein numbering) and deleting five N-terminal residues in yeast cytochrome c did not evoke apoptotic activity in mammalian cells. The apoptotic function of cytochrome c was abolished by the K72W substitution. The K72W-substituted cytochrome c possesses reduced affinity to the apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) and forms an inactive complex. This mutant is competent as a respiratory-chain electron carrier and well suited for knock-in studies of cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis.
ID:94