Domain Swapping and Different Oligomeric States for the Complex Between Calmodulin and the Calmodulin-Binding Domain of Calcineurin A

BACKGROUND: Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitously expressed calcium sensor that engages in regulatory interactions with a large number of cellular proteins. Previously, a unique mode of CaM target recognition has been observed in the crystal structure of a complex between CaM and the CaM-binding domain of calcineurin A. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We have solved a high-resolution crystal structure of a complex between CaM and the CaM-binding domain of calcineurin A in a novel crystal form, which shows a dimeric assembly of calmodulin, as observed before in the crystal state. We note that the conformation of CaM in this complex is very similar to that of unliganded CaM, and a detailed analysis revels that the CaM-binding motif in calcineurin A is of a novel '1-11' type. However, using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that the complex is fully monomeric in solution, and a structure of a canonically collapsed CaM-peptide complex can easily be fitted into the SAXS data. This result is also supported by size exclusion chromatography, where the addition of the ligand peptide decreases the apparent size of CaM. In addition, we studied the energetics of binding by isothermal titration calorimetry and found them to closely resemble those observed previously for ligand peptides from CaM-dependent kinases. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results implicate that CaM can also form a complex with the CaM-binding domain of calcineurin in a 1 ratio 1 stoichiometry, in addition to the previously observed 2 ratio 2 arrangement in the crystal state. At the structural level, going from 2 ratio 2 association to two 1 ratio 1 complexes will require domain swapping in CaM, accompanied by the characteristic bending of the central linker helix between the two lobes of CaM

N- and C-Terminal Domains of the Calcium Binding Protein EhCaBP1 of the Parasite Entamoeba histolytica Display Distinct Functions

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of amoebiasis, and calcium signaling is thought to be involved in amoebic pathogenesis. EhCaBP1, a Ca2+ binding protein of E. histolytica, is essential for parasite growth. High resolution crystal structure of EhCaBP1 suggested an unusual arrangement of the EF-hand domains in the N-terminal part of the structure, while C-terminal part of the protein was not traced. The structure revealed a trimer with amino terminal domains of the three molecules interacting in a head-to-tail manner forming an assembled domain at the interface with EF1 and EF2 motifs of different molecules coming close to each other. In order to understand the specific roles of the two domains of EhCaBP1, the molecule was divided into two halves, and each half was separately expressed. The domains were characterized with respect to their structure, as well as specific functional features, such as ability to activate kinase and bind actin. The domains were also expressed in E. histolytica cells along with green fluorescent protein. The results suggest that the N-terminal domain retains some of the properties, such as localization in phagocytic cups and activation of kinase. Crystal structure of EhCaBP1 with Phenylalanine revealed that the assembled domains, which are similar to Calmodulin N-terminal domain, bind to Phenylalanine revealing the binding mode to the target proteins. The C-terminal domain did not show any of the activities tested. However, over-expression in amebic cells led to a dominant negative phenotype. The results suggest that the two domains of EhCaBP1 are functionally and structurally different from each other. Both the domains are required for structural stability and full range of functional diversity

Selenomethionine Incorporation into Amyloid Sequences Regulates Fibrillogenesis and Toxicity

The capacity of a polypeptide chain to engage in an amyloid formation process and cause a conformational disease is contained in its sequence. Some of the sequences undergoing fibrillation contain critical methionine (Met) residues which in vivo can be synthetically substituted by selenomethionine (SeM) and alter their properties

Detection of drug specific circulating immune complexes from in vivo cynomolgus monkey serum samples

BACKGROUND: Administration of a biotherapeutic can result in the formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). The resulting ADA can potentially form immune complexes (ICs) with the drug leading to altered pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles and/or adverse events. Furthermore the presence of such complexes may interfere with accurate PK assessment, and/or detection of ADA in immunogenicity assays. Here, we present two assays to detect the presence of drug-ADA immune complexes in cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: Serum samples were analyzed for IC formation in vivo. 8/8 tested animals were positive for drug specific IC. Depending on the time point tested 4/8 or 7/8 animals tested positive for ADA during drug dosing. All 8 animals were confirmed positive for ADA during the washout phase, indicating drug interference in the bridging assay. Relative amount of IC over time was determined and its correlation with PK and ADA was then assessed. Multivariate data analysis demonstrates good correlation between signals obtained from the anti-drug and FcgammaRIIIa based capture assays, although due to its biological characteristic FcgammaRIIIa based assay captured only a subset of drug specific IC. In one animal IC remained in circulation even when the drug levels decreased below detection limit. CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate the presence of IC during administration of an immunogenic biotherapeutic. Potential application of these assays includes detection of ADA in an IC during high drug levels. The results on the kinetics of IC formation during ADA response can complement the understanding of PK and ADA profiles. Moreover, the presence of IC indicates possible ADA interference in standard PK assays and potential underestimation of total drug exposure in toxicology studies. In addition this study also highlights the need to understand downstream in vivo consequences of drug-ADA IC as no animals under investigation developed adverse event

Specific (CD2CD2SCHD2)-C-12-D-beta-C-12-D-gamma-C-13-H-epsilon Isotopomer Labeling of Methionine To Characterize Protein Dynamics by H-1 and C-13 NMR Relaxation Dispersion

Protein dynamics on the micro- to millisecond time scale is increasingly found to be critical for biological function, as demonstrated by numerous NMR relaxation dispersion studies. Methyl groups are excellent probes of protein interactions and dynamics because of their favorable NMR relaxation properties, which lead to sharp signals in the H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra. Out of the six different methyl-bearing amino acid residue types in proteins; methionine plays a special role because of its extensive side chain flexibility and the high polarizability of the sulfur atom. Methionine is over-represented:in many protein-protein recognition sites making the methyl group of this, residue type an important probe of the relationships among dynamics, Interactions, and biological function. Here we present a straightforward method to label methionine residues with specific (CHD2)-C-13 methyl isotopomers against a deuterated background. The resulting protein samples yield NMR spectra with improved sensitivity due to the essentially 100% population of the desired (CHD2)-C-13 methyl isotopomer, which is ideal for H-1 and C-13 spin relaxation experiments to investigate protein dynamics in general and conformational exchange in particular. We demonstrate the approach by measuring H-1 and C-13 CPMG relaxation dispersion for the nine methionines in calcium free calmodulin (apo-CaM). The results. show that the C- terminal domain, but not the N-terminal domain, of apo-CaM undergoes fast exchange between the ground state and a high-energy state. Since target proteins are known to bind specifically to the C-terminal domain of apo-CaM, we speculate that the high energy state might be involved in target binding through conformational selection