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Tertiary structure of an immunoglobulin-like domain from the giant muscle protein titin: a new member of the I set
No full textAbstractBackground: Titin is a gigantic protein located in the thick filament of vertebrate muscles. The putative functions of titin range from interactions with myosin and other muscle proteins to a role in muscle recoil. Analysis of its complete sequence has shown that titin is a multi-domain protein containing several copies of modules of 100 amino acids each. These are thought to belong to the fibronectin type-III and immunoglobulin superfamilies. So far, a complete structural determination has not been carried out on any of the titin modules.Results The three-dimensional structure of an immunoglobulin module, located in the M-line of the sarcomere close to the titin C terminus and called ‘M5’, was determined by multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The structure has the predicted immunoglobulin fold with two β-sheets packed against each other. Each sheet contains four strands. The structure of M5 belongs to the I (intermediate) set of the immunoglobulin superfamily and is very similar to telokin, which is also found in muscles. Although M5 and telokin have relatively little sequence similarity, the two proteins clearly share the same hydrophobic core. The major difference between telokin and the titin M5 module is the absence of the C′ strand in the latter.Conclusion The titin domains and several of the immunoglobulin-like domains from other modular muscle proteins are highly conserved at the positions corresponding to the hydrophobic core of M5. Our results indicate that it may be possible to use the structure of M5 as a molecular template to model most of the other immunoglobulin-like domains in muscle titin
When a module is also a domain: The role of the N terminus in the stability and the dynamics of immunoglobulin domains from titin
No full textIn the course of a structural study of titin, a giant modular protein from muscle, we have reported that N-terminal extension of immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domains from titin stabilizes this fold. In order to investigate the structural basis of such an effect, we have solved the structure of NEXTM5, which has six amino acids added to the sequence of M5, a domain for which full structure determination has been previously achieved. In the present work, the structures and the dynamics of M5 and NEXTM5 are compared in the light of data collected for these and other titin domains. In NEXTM5, three out of the six added residues are structured and pack against the nearby BC and FG loops. As a consequence, three new backbone hydrogen bonds are formed with the B strand, extending the A strand by two residues and decreasing the exposed surface area of the loops. Additional contacts which involve the side-chains give rise to a remarkable pH dependence of the stability. Interestingly, no correlation is observed on the NMR time-scale between the overall dynamics of the extended domain and its increased stability. The most noticeable differences between the two constructs are localised around the N terminus, which becomes more rigid upon extension. Since a similar pattern of contacts is observed for other domains of the immunoglobulin I-set, our results are of general relevance for this protein family. Our work might also inspire a more rational approach to the investigation of domain boundaries and their influence on module stability
A CALMODULIN-BINDING SEQUENCE IN THE C-TERMINUS OF HUMAN CARDIAC TITIN KINASE
No full textThe giant muscle proteins of the titin family, which are specific for the striated muscles of vertebrates and invertebrates, contain as a common feature a catalytic protein kinase domain of so far unclear function and regulation. In myosin light chain kinase, a family evolutionarily related to titin, kinase regulation is achieved by calmodulin binding to a region of the kinase C-terminus which bears similarity to the substrate. A calmodulin-binding sequence has also been identified in the C-terminus of the Aplysia twitchin kinase. In analogy, we identified a putative calmodulin-binding site in the titin kinase C-terminal sequence. The expressed catalytic domain itself and a series of synthetic peptides from this region were tested for their ability to bind calmodulin. Biochemical data indicate that titin kinase as well as peptides from its C-terminus bind to calmodulin in an equimolar complex in the presence of calcium. The interaction of truncated peptides with calmodulin is, however, weaker than that of myosin light chain kinase. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that these peptides have a tendency to adopt alpha-helical conformations in solution. Helicity increases upon binding of calmodulin in a calcium-dependent fashion, as judged by circular dichroism spectra. We, therefore, propose that this calmodulin-binding region of titin could play a regulatory role for the enzyme, the substrate of which still remains to be identified
NEBULIN, A HELICAL ACTIN-BINDING PROTEIN
No full textNebulin, a giant protein (molecular mass 800 kDa) specific for the skeletal muscle of vertebrates, has been suggested to be involved in the length regulation of the thin filament as a 'molecular ruler'. Despite its size, nebulin appears to be composed mainly of small repeats of approximately 35 amino acids. We have characterized in this study the conformational and functional properties of single repeats. Complete repeats were found to bind to F-actin while a truncated one did not. One repeat is therefore the smallest unit for nebulin--actin interaction. Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra measured for the peptides in water indicated a transient helical conformation. The folded region is located for them all around the conserved sequence SDxxYK. The helical conformation is strongly stabilized by anionic detergents and trifluoroethanol while uncharged or positively charged detergents have no effect. Since the surface of the actin filament is known to contain clusters of negative charges, anionic detergents may mimic the effect of an actin environment. 3D structures were calculated for three representative peptides in SDS. In vivo, the nebulin helices should form a complex with the actin filament. Based on the assumed importance of charge interactions between nebulin and actin, we propose a model for the structure of the F-actin-nebulin complex in vivo. According to that, two nebulin molecules occupy symmetrical positions along the central cleft of the actin filament bridging the two strands of the actin two-start helix. The consistency of this model with experimental data is discussed
SECONDARY STRUCTURE DETERMINATION BY NMR-SPECTROSCOPY OF AN IMMUNOGLOBULIN-LIKE DOMAIN FROM THE GIANT MUSCLE PROTEIN TITIN
No full textWe present the complete 15N and 1H NMR assignment and the secondary structure of an immunoglobulin-like domain from the giant muscle protein titin. The assignment was obtained using homonuclear and 15N heteronuclear 2D and 3D experiments. The complementarity of 3D TOCSY-NOESY and 3D 15N NOESY-HSQC experiments, using WATERGATE for water suppression, allowed an efficient assignment of otherwise ambiguous cross peaks and was helpful in overcoming poor TOCSY transfer for some amino acids. The secondary structure is derived from specific NOEs between backbone alpha- and amide protons, secondary chemical shifts of alpha-protons and chemical exchange for the backbone amide protons. It consists of eight beta-strands, forming two beta-sheets with four strands each, similar to the classical beta-sandwich of the immunoglobulin superfamily, as previously predicted by sequence analysis. Two of the beta-strands are connected by type II beta-turns; the first beta-strand forms a beta-bulge. The whole topology is very similar to the only intracellular immunoglobulin-like domain for which a structure has been determined so far, i.e., telokin
Correlation between conformational and binding properties of nebulin repeats
No full textNebulin, a large protein (600 to 800 kDa) located in the thin filament of striated vertebrate muscle, is assumed to bind and stabilise F-actin. Complete sequence determination of human nebulin has only recently been accomplished showing a uniform modular structure along the whole length of the molecule. Up to 97% of the sequence is assembled from repeats of a sequence motif 35 amino acid residues long. This architecture suggests that a structural and functional understanding of such a large molecule may be possible by characterising single repeats and reconstructing from them the behaviour of the whole molecule. In the present study, we extend and generalise to the whole molecule previous work carried out on single repeats from a limited region of nebulin. Knowledge of the complete sequence allowed extensive analysis of the single repeats revealing a progressive N to C-terminal divergence that is mirrored by an increase of the alpha-helix propensity. A number of synthetic peptides spanning the sequences of selected repeats were obtained and their conformational and binding properties studied in detail. All the peptides showed a tendency to fold as transient helices in aqueous solution with helix content as observed by CD and NMR studies in excellent agreement with predictions. A higher helical tendency of repeats near the C terminus was observed. Analysis of the influence of charged media as well as trifluoroethanol on the folding of single repeats strongly suggested that the mechanism by which the nebulin alpha-helix is stabilised is mostly electrostatic. Peptides with higher helical content also showed a higher binding affinity to F-actin. Considerably varying effects were observed for the peptides on F-actin viscosity and polymerisation. We discuss the divergence in sequence and helical tendency and its correlation to the functional data with regard to their significance for the assembly of the thin filament during myogenesis
SECONDARY STRUCTURE DETERMINATION BY NMR-SPECTROSCOPY OF AN IMMUNOGLOBULIN-LIKE DOMAIN FROM THE GIANT MUSCLE PROTEIN TITIN
No full textWe present the complete 15N and 1H NMR assignment and the secondary structure of an immunoglobulin-like domain from the giant muscle protein titin. The assignment was obtained using homonuclear and 15N heteronuclear 2D and 3D experiments. The complementarity of 3D TOCSY-NOESY and 3D 15N NOESY-HSQC experiments, using WATERGATE for water suppression, allowed an efficient assignment of otherwise ambiguous cross peaks and was helpful in overcoming poor TOCSY transfer for some amino acids. The secondary structure is derived from specific NOEs between backbone alpha- and amide protons, secondary chemical shifts of alpha-protons and chemical exchange for the backbone amide protons. It consists of eight beta-strands, forming two beta-sheets with four strands each, similar to the classical beta-sandwich of the immunoglobulin superfamily, as previously predicted by sequence analysis. Two of the beta-strands are connected by type II beta-turns; the first beta-strand forms a beta-bulge. The whole topology is very similar to the only intracellular immunoglobulin-like domain for which a structure has been determined so far, i.e., telokin
When a module is also a domain: The role of the N terminus in the stability and the dynamics of immunoglobulin domains from titin
No full textIn the course of a structural study of titin, a giant modular protein from muscle, we have reported that N-terminal extension of immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domains from titin stabilizes this fold. In order to investigate the structural basis of such an effect, we have solved the structure of NEXTM5, which has six amino acids added to the sequence of M5, a domain for which full structure determination has been previously achieved. In the present work, the structures and the dynamics of M5 and NEXTM5 are compared in the light of data collected for these and other titin domains. In NEXTM5, three out of the six added residues are structured and pack against the nearby BC and FG loops. As a consequence, three new backbone hydrogen bonds are formed with the B strand, extending the A strand by two residues and decreasing the exposed surface area of the loops. Additional contacts which involve the side-chains give rise to a remarkable pH dependence of the stability. Interestingly, no correlation is observed on the NMR time-scale between the overall dynamics of the extended domain and its increased stability. The most noticeable differences between the two constructs are localised around the N terminus, which becomes more rigid upon extension. Since a similar pattern of contacts is observed for other domains of the immunoglobulin I-set, our results are of general relevance for this protein family. Our work might also inspire a more rational approach to the investigation of domain boundaries and their influence on module stability
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