Structural Determination of Functional Units of the Nucleotide Binding Domain (NBD94) of the Reticulocyte Binding Protein Py235 of Plasmodium yoelii

Invasion of the red blood cells (RBC) by the merozoite of malaria parasites involves a large number of receptor ligand interactions. The reticulocyte binding protein homologue family (RH) plays an important role in erythrocyte recognition as well as virulence. Recently, it has been shown that members of RH in addition to receptor binding may also have a role as ATP/ADP sensor. A 94 kDa region named Nucleotide-Binding Domain 94 (NBD94) of Plasmodium yoelii YM, representative of the putative nucleotide binding region of RH, has been demonstrated to bind ATP and ADP selectively. Binding of ATP or ADP induced nucleotide-dependent structural changes in the C-terminal hinge-region of NBD94, and directly impacted on the RBC binding ability of RH.In order to find the smallest structural unit, able to bind nucleotides, and its coupling module, the hinge region, three truncated domains of NBD94 have been generated, termed NBD94(444-547), NBD94(566-663) and NBD94(674-793), respectively. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy NBD94(444-547) has been identified to form the smallest nucleotide binding segment, sensitive for ATP and ADP, which became inhibited by 4-Chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan. The shape of NBD94(444-547) in solution was calculated from small-angle X-ray scattering data, revealing an elongated molecule, comprised of two globular domains, connected by a spiral segment of about 73.1 A in length. The high quality of the constructs, forming the hinge-region, NBD94(566-663) and NBD94(674-793) enabled to determine the first crystallographic and solution structure, respectively. The crystal structure of NBD94(566-663) consists of two helices with 97.8 A and 48.6 A in length, linked by a loop. By comparison, the low resolution structure of NBD94(674-793) in solution represents a chair-like shape with three architectural segments.These structures give the first insight into how nucleotide binding impacts on the overall structure of RH and demonstrates the potential use of this region as a novel drug target

Structural architecture and interplay of the nucleotide- and erythrocyte binding domain of the reticulocyte binding protein Py235 from Plasmodium yoelii

Human malaria is caused by the cyclical invasion of the host’s red blood cells (RBCs) by the invasive form of the parasite, the merozoite. The invasion of the RBC involves a range of parasite ligand receptor interactions, a process which is under intensive investigation. Two protein families are known to be important in the recognition and invasion of the human erythrocyte, the erythrocyte-binding like (EBL) proteins and the reticulocyte binding like proteins, of which the Py235 family in Plasmodium yoelii is a member. Recently the nucleotide binding domain (NBD94), that plays a role in ATP sensing, and the erythrocyte binding domain (EBD) of Py235, called EBD1–194, have been identified. Binding of ATP leads to conformational changes within Py235 from P. yoelli and results in enhanced binding of the protein to the RBC. Structural features of these domains have been obtained, providing the platform to discuss how the structural architecture creates the basis for an interplay of the sensing NBD and the EBD domain in Py235. In analogy to the receptor-mediated ligand-dimerization model of the EBL proteins PvDBP and PfEBA-175 from Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, respectively, we hypothesise that Py235 of P. yoelii binds via its EBD1–194 domain to the RBC receptor, thereby inducing dimerization of the Py235-receptor complex

Structure and flexibility of non-structural proteins 3 and -5 of Dengue- and Zika viruses in solution

Dengue- (DENV) and Zika viruses (ZIKV) rely on their non-structural protein 5 (NS5) including a methyl-transferase (MTase) and a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) for capping and synthesis of the viral RNA, and the non-structural protein 3 (NS3) with its protease and helicase domain for polyprotein possessing, unwinding dsRNA proceeding replication, and NTPase/RTPase activities. Accumulation of data for DENV- and ZIKV NS3 and NS5 in solution during recent years provides information about their overall shape, substrate-induced alterations, oligomeric forms and flexibility, with the latter being essential for domain-domain crosstalk. The importance and differences of the linker regions that connect the two domains of NS3 or NS5 are highlighted in particular with respect to the different DENV serotypes (DENV-1 to −4) as well as to the sequence diversities between the DENV and ZIKV proteins. Novel mutants of the French Polynesia ZIKV NS3 linker presented, identify critical residues in protein stability and enzymatic activity.Ministry of Education (MOE)Accepted versionThis work as well as the research scholarship of Ankita Pan was supported by the Ministry of Education MOE Tier 3 (MOE2012-T3- 1-008), Singapore to G.G

Atomic structure of the regulatory TGS domain of Rel protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its interaction with deacylated tRNA

The stringent response is critical for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) under nutrient starvation. The mechanism is mediated by a GTP pyrophosphokinase known as Rel, containing N-terminal synthetase and hydrolase domains and C-terminal regulatory domains, which include the TGS domain (ThrRS, GTPase, and SpoT proteins) that has been proposed to activate the synthetase domain via interaction with deacylated tRNA. Here, we present the NMR solution structure of the Mtb Rel TGS domain (MtRel TGS), consisting of five antiparallel β-strands and one helix-loop-helix motif. The interaction of MtRel TGS with deacylated tRNA is shown, indicating the critical amino acids of MtRel TGS in tRNA binding, and presenting the first structural evidence of MtRel TGS binding to deacylated tRNA in solution in the absence of the translational machinery.Ministry of Education (MOE)We would like to thank the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (Rg137/15)for the funding to GG

Effect of the additional cysteine 503 of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (V583) alkylhydroperoxide reductase subunit F (AhpF) and the mechanism of AhpF and subunit C assembling

The vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis alkyl hydroperoxide reductase complex (AhpR) with its subunits AhpC (EfAhpC) and AhpF (EfAhpF) is of paramount importance to restore redox homeostasis. Therefore, knowledge about this defense system is essential to understand its antibiotic-resistance and survival in hosts. Recently, we described the crystallographic structures of EfAhpC, the two-fold thioredoxin-like domain of EfAhpF, the novel phenomenon of swapping of the catalytic domains of EfAhpF as well as the unique linker length, connecting the catalytically active N-and C-terminal domains of EfAhpF. Here, using mutagenesis and enzymatic studies, we reveal the effect of an additional third cysteine (C503) in EfAhpF, which might optimize the functional adaptation of the E. faecalis enzyme under various physiological conditions. The crystal structure and solution NMR data of the engineered C503A mutant of the thioredoxin-like domain of EfAhpF were used to describe alterations in the environment of the additional cysteine residue during modulation of the redox-state. To glean insight into the epitope and mechanism of EfAhpF and -AhpC interaction as well as the electron transfer from the thioredoxin-like domain of EfAhpF to AhpC, NMR-titration experiments were performed, showing a coordinated disappearance of peaks in the thioredoxin-like domain of EfAhpF in the presence of full length EfAhpC, and indicating a stable EfAhpF-AhpC-complex. Combined with docking studies, the interacting residues of EfAhpF were identified and a mechanism of electron transfer of the EfAhpF donor to the electron acceptor EfAhpC is described.Ministry of Education (MOE)Accepted versionThis research was supported by a Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (RG140/16) to G.G. (M4080811.080). We thank Dr. S. S. M. Malathy for the art work of Fig. 1A

Structural features of NS3 of Dengue virus serotypes 2 and 4 in solution and insight into RNA binding and the inhibitory role of quercetin

Dengue virus (DENV), which has four serotypes (DENV‐1 to DENV‐4), is the causative agent of the viral infection dengue. DENV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) comprises a serine protease domain and an RNA helicase domain which has nucleotide triphosphatase activities that are essential for RNA replication and viral assembly. Here, solution X‐ray scattering was used to provide insight into the overall structure and flexibility of the entire NS3 and its recombinant helicase and protease domains for Dengue virus serotypes 2 and 4 in solution. The DENV‐2 and DENV‐4 NS3 forms are elongated and flexible in solution. The importance of the linker residues in flexibility and domain–domain arrangement was shown by the compactness of the individual protease and helicase domains. Swapping of the 174PPAVP179 linker stretch of the related Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 into DENV‐2 NS3 did not alter the elongated shape of the engineered mutant. Conformational alterations owing to RNA binding are described in the protease domain, which undergoes substantial conformational alterations that are required for the optimal catalysis of bound RNA. Finally, the effects of ATPase inhibitors on the enzymatically active DENV‐2 and DENV‐4 NS3 and the individual helicases are presented, and insight into the allosteric effect of the inhibitor quercetin is provided.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Published versio

Structural insight and flexible features of NS5 proteins from all four serotypes of Dengue virus in solution

Infection by the four serotypes of Dengue virus (DENV-1 to DENV-4) causes an important arthropod-borne viral disease in humans. The multifunctional DENV nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) is essential for capping and replication of the viral RNA and harbours a methyltransferase (MTase) domain and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. In this study, insights into the overall structure and flexibility of the entire NS5 of all four Dengue virus serotypes in solution are presented for the first time. The solution models derived revealed an arrangement of the full-length NS5 (NS5FL) proteins with the MTase domain positioned at the top of the RdRP domain. The DENV-1 to DENV-4 NS5 forms are elongated and flexible in solution, with DENV-4 NS5 being more compact relative to NS5 from DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3. Solution studies of the individual MTase and RdRp domains show the compactness of the RdRp domain as well as the contribution of the MTase domain and the ten-residue linker region to the flexibility of the entire NS5. Swapping the ten-residue linker between DENV-4 NS5FL and DENV-3 NS5FL demonstrated its importance in MTase–RdRp communication and in concerted interaction with viral and host proteins, as probed by amide hydrogen/deuterium mass spectrometry. Conformational alterations owing to RNA binding are presented.Published versio