The BPTI decamer observed in acidic pH crystal forms pre-exists as a stable species in solution

International audienceBovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) crystallizes under acidic pH conditions in the presence of thiocyanate, chloride and sulfate ions, yielding three different polymorphs in P2$_1$, P6$_4$22 and P6$_3$22 space groups, respectively. In all three crystal forms, the same decamer is found in the packing (ten BPTI molecules organized through two perpendicular 2-fold and 5-fold axes as a well-defined and compact object) in contrast to the monomeric crystal forms observed at basic pH conditions. The crystallization of BPTI under acidic conditions (pH 4.5) was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering with both under- and supersaturated BPTI solutions. Data showed the oligomerization of BPTI molecules under all investigated conditions. Accordingly, various mixtures of discrete oligomers ($n$=1 to 10) were considered. Calculated scattering curves were obtained using models based on the crystallographic structures, and the experimental patterns were analyzed as a linear combination of the model curves using a non-linear curve fitting procedure. The results, confirmed by gel filtration experiments, unambiguously demonstrate the co-existence of two different BPTI particles in solution: a monomer and a decamer, with no evidence of any other intermediates. Moreover, using both approaches, the fraction of decamers was found to increase with increasing salt concentration, even beyond the solubility curve. We therefore propose that at acidic pH, BPTI crystallizes following a two step process: decamers are first built in under- and supersaturated solutions, upon which crystal growth proceeds by decamer stacking. Indeed, those BPTI crystals should best be described as “BPTI decamer” crystals

The BPTI decamer observed in acidic pH crystal forms pre-exists as a stable species in solution

International audienceBovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) crystallizes under acidic pH conditions in the presence of thiocyanate, chloride and sulfate ions, yielding three different polymorphs in P2$_1$, P6$_4$22 and P6$_3$22 space groups, respectively. In all three crystal forms, the same decamer is found in the packing (ten BPTI molecules organized through two perpendicular 2-fold and 5-fold axes as a well-defined and compact object) in contrast to the monomeric crystal forms observed at basic pH conditions. The crystallization of BPTI under acidic conditions (pH 4.5) was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering with both under- and supersaturated BPTI solutions. Data showed the oligomerization of BPTI molecules under all investigated conditions. Accordingly, various mixtures of discrete oligomers ($n$=1 to 10) were considered. Calculated scattering curves were obtained using models based on the crystallographic structures, and the experimental patterns were analyzed as a linear combination of the model curves using a non-linear curve fitting procedure. The results, confirmed by gel filtration experiments, unambiguously demonstrate the co-existence of two different BPTI particles in solution: a monomer and a decamer, with no evidence of any other intermediates. Moreover, using both approaches, the fraction of decamers was found to increase with increasing salt concentration, even beyond the solubility curve. We therefore propose that at acidic pH, BPTI crystallizes following a two step process: decamers are first built in under- and supersaturated solutions, upon which crystal growth proceeds by decamer stacking. Indeed, those BPTI crystals should best be described as “BPTI decamer” crystals

Weak protein–cationic co-ion interactions addressed by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry

International audienceThe adsorption of Rb+, Cs+, Mn2+, Co2+ and Yb3+ onto the positively charged hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) has been investigated by solving 13 X-ray structures of HEWL crystallized with their chlorides and by applying electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) first to dissolved protein crystals and then to the protein in buffered salt solutions. The number of bound cations follows the order Cs+ < Mn2+ ’ Co2+ < Yb3+ at 293 K. HEWL binds less Rb+ (qtot = 0.7) than Cs+ (qtot = 3.9) at 100 K. Crystal flash-cooling drastically increases the binding of Cs+, but poorly affects that of Yb3+, suggesting different interactions. The addition of glycerol increases the number of bound Yb3+ cations, but only slightly increases that of Rb+. HEWL titrations with the same chlorides, followed by ESI-MS analysis, show that only about 10% of HEWL binds Cs+ and about 40% binds 1–2 Yb3+ cations, while the highest binding reaches 60–70% for protein binding 1–3 Mn2+ or Co2+ cations. The binding sites identified by X-ray crystallography show that the monovalent Rb+ and Cs+ preferentially bind to carbonyl groups, whereas themultivalent Mn2+, Co2+ and Yb3+ interact with carboxylic groups. This work elucidates the basis of the effect of the Hofmeister cation series on protein solubility

The decameric structure of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) crystallized from thiocyanate at 2.7 Å resolution

International audienceThe structure of a monoclinic form of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) crystallized from a thiocyanate solution has been determined and refined at 2.7 Å resolution. The space group is P2$_1$ with $a$ = 71.56, $b$ = 73.83, $c$ = 64.47 Å, $\beta$ = 93.9° and Z = 20. The ten independent molecules were located by a multi-body molecular-replacement search as developed in the AMoRe program, starting from a single monomer model (PDB code: 6PTI). The molecular arrangement of the subunits is a decamer resulting from the combination of two orthogonal fivefold and twofold non-crystallographic axes. This builds a globular micelle-like particle which minimizes hydrophobic interactions with the solvent. The refinement was conducted with non-crystallographic symmetry constraints up to a final residual of R = 0.20 (R$_{free}$ = 0.26). The root-mean-square deviations from ideal geometry were 0.015 Å and 1.6° on bond distances and bond angles, respectively. Several sites for thiocyanate ions were analyze

Synchrotron X-Ray Microdiffraction Reveals Intrinsic Structural Features of Amyloid Deposits In Situ

Amyloidoses are increasingly recognized as a major public health concern in Western countries. All amyloidoses share common morphological, structural, and tinctorial properties. These consist of staining by specific dyes, a fibrillar aspect in electron microscopy and a typical cross-β folding in x-ray diffraction patterns. Most studies that aim at deciphering the amyloid structure rely on fibers generated in vitro or extracted from tissues using protocols that may modify their intrinsic structure. Therefore, the fine details of the in situ architecture of the deposits remain unknown. Here, we present to our knowledge the first data obtained on ex vivo human renal tissue sections using x-ray microdiffraction. The typical cross-β features from fixed paraffin-embedded samples are similar to those formed in vitro or extracted from tissues. Moreover, the fiber orientation maps obtained across glomerular sections reveal an intrinsic texture that is correlated with the glomerulus morphology. These results are of the highest importance to understanding the formation of amyloid deposits and are thus expected to trigger new incentives for tissue investigation. Moreover, the access to intrinsic structural parameters such as fiber size and orientation using synchrotron x-ray microdiffraction, could provide valuable information concerning in situ mechanisms and deposit formation with potential benefits for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes