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| 2. |
- Ul Mushtaq, Ameeq, et al.
(författare)
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Neutron reflectometry and NMR spectroscopy of full-length Bcl-2 protein reveal its membrane localization and conformation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 4:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins are the main regulators of mitochondrial apoptosis. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins possess a hydrophobic tail-anchor enabling them to translocate to their target membrane and to shift into an active conformation where they inhibit pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins to ensure cell survival. To address the unknown molecular basis of their cell-protecting functionality, we used intact human Bcl-2 protein natively residing at the mitochondrial outer membrane and applied neutron reflectometry and NMR spectroscopy. Here we show that the active full-length protein is entirely buried into its target membrane except for the regulatory flexible loop domain (FLD), which stretches into the aqueous exterior. The membrane location of Bcl-2 and its conformational state seems to be important for its cell-protecting activity, often infamously upregulated in cancers. Most likely, this situation enables the Bcl-2 protein to sequester pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins at the membrane level while sensing cytosolic regulative signals via its FLD region. Through neutron reflectometry and NMR spectroscopy studies, Mushtaq et al study the full-length Bcl-2 protein reconstituted in lipid bilayers. They find that, in contrast to previously studied truncated, soluble protein versions, intact Bcl-2 is mainly embedded in the membrane with its regulatory loop highly flexible.
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| 3. |
- Dingeldein, Artur P G, et al.
(författare)
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BCL-2 Family Proteins Effect on Mitochondrial-Mimicking Membrane Structure by Solid State NMR
- 2015
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Cell Press. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 108:2, s. 251A-252A
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mitochondria are not only the cells' powerhouse, but also involved in their suicide via apoptosis. Key regulators of this pathway are members of the Bcl-2 protein family which interact with the outer mitochondrial membrane to modulate permeability and enable the release of apoptotic stimuli like cytochrome c. For a long time the mitochondrial membrane forming lipids have been seen as merely structural building units with proteins doing the actual work. This view changed in recent years, since lipids were shown to be also directly involved in apoptotic events e.g. under intracellular oxidative stress. Oxidized phospholipids (OxPls) generated under these stress conditions might trigger mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Their presence in mitochondrial membranes can severely alter the properties of these membranes with yet unknown consequences regarding the formation of pores through membrane-mediated interplay with apoptotic Bax protein. We therefore devised a model system that embodies oxidative stress conditions by incorporating OxPls into mitochondria mimicking model membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and cardiolipin (CL) to study the impact of OxPls on apoptotic Bax-membrane interactions. To obtain molecular insight into hydrophobic fatty acid regions of membranes and their hydrophilic interface which is responsible for first protein-membrane contacts, we used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and solid state NMR spectroscopy. Upon incorporating OxPls with carboxyl (PoxnoPC) or aldehyde (PazePC) groups at their truncated sn-2-chains into our mitochondria model membranes, calorimetric and NMR measurements showed dramatic changes. 31P NMR experiments revealed major perturbation effects in these membranes; an effect which presumably elevates the membrane binding of apoptotic Bax to the charged membranes and its partial penetration, being a prerequisite for its final formation of pores which enable cytochrome c release from the mitochondrial interior. Currently structural studies of various Bax-lipid assemblies are ongoing.
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| 5. |
- Dingeldein, Artur P. G., et al.
(författare)
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Oxidatively stressed mitochondria-mimicking membranes : a molecular insight into their organization during apoptosis
- 2018
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes. - : Elsevier. - 0005-2736 .- 1879-2642. ; 1860:12, s. 2644-2654
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mitochondria are crucially involved in the removal of eukaryotic cells by the intrinsic pathway of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The mitochondrion's outer membrane (MOM) is the platform where this pathway takes place. Upon oxidative stress triggering apoptotic action, the MOM undergoes permeabilization and release of cytochrome c, ultimately causing cell death. This membrane perforation is regulated not only by opposing members of the Bcl-2 protein family meeting at the MOM but also actively the membrane itself. Upon oxidative damage, the membrane undergoes severe reorganization causing an increase in cell death-causing apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. To understand the active role of MOM, we provided a detailed molecular view of its structural and dynamic reorganization upon oxidative stress by solid-state C-13 MAS NMR (magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) accompanied by calorimetric studies. By focusing on MOM-like vesicles doped with oxidized lipid species, direct polarization C-13 MAS NMR provided a quantitative overview and identification of all lipid moieties across the membrane. H-1-C-1(3) cross polarization and insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer MAS NMR generated a dynamic - mobile versus restricted - membrane profile. Oxidized phospholipids significantly perturb the structural membrane organization and increase membrane dynamics. These perturbations are not uniformly distributed as the hydrophobic core is reflecting the melting of lipid chains and increase in molecular disorder directly, whereas the interface and headgroup region undergo complex dynamical changes, reflecting increased intra-molecular flexibility of these moieties. These changes are potentially crucial in augmenting pro-apoptotic action of proteins like Bax.
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| 6. |
- Koukalova, A., et al.
(författare)
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Oxidative stress as a modulator of BAX apoptotic activity
- 2019
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Ingår i: European Biophysics Journal. - : Springer. - 0175-7571 .- 1432-1017. ; 48, s. S170-S170
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Apoptosis is a regulated process of cell death that plays an important role in embryonic development, regulation of tissue homeostasis or removal of harmful cells in multicellular organisms. A failure in apoptosis can lead to severe pathological disorders including cancer, autoimmunity or neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria play a key role in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, which is tightly regulated by Bcl-2 protein family. In response to cytotoxic stress, these proteins initiate cell death by permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) followed by the release of apoptotic factors, such as cytochrome c, which represents a point of no return in apoptotic progression. BAX protein, a member of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family with a pore forming activity, is a critical effector of the mitochondrial cell death pathway. Upon interaction with BH3-only proteins, cytosolic BAX undergoes conformational activation and translocation resulting in MOM permeabilization. However, the underlying mechanism controlling this membrane-associated BAX action is still poorly understood. Recent findings suggest that the activity of BAX protein is significantly regulated by the lipid composition of the MOM. In particular, oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) that are generated under oxidative stress conditions seem to directly influence BAX membrane penetration and its activity [1,2].By employing single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy techniques and various dye leakage assays we study the BAX membrane interactions and its activity in in vitro system that makes use of synthetic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) doped with varying amounts of OxPL species, which mimics oxidative stress conditions. Dye leakage assays revealed that BAX activity is sensitive to the type and concentration of different OxPL species in the MOM-mimicking vesicles. Higher levels of oxidized phospholipids in MOM mimicking model lipid bilayer significantly enhance membrane affinity and partial penetration of full length BAX. In addition, solid state NMR studies and calorimetric experiments on the lipid vesicles revealed that the presence of OxPL disrupts the membrane organization enabling BAX to penetrate into the membrane.
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| 7. |
- Lidman, Martin, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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The oxidized phospholipid PazePC promotes permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes by Bax
- 2016
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes. - : Elsevier BV. - 0005-2736 .- 1879-2642. ; 1858:6, s. 1288-1297
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mitochondria play a crucial role in programmed cell death via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, which is tightly regulated by the B-cell CLL/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein family. Intracellular oxidative stress causes the translocation of Bax, a pro-apoptotic family member, to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) where it induces membrane permeabilization. Oxidized phospholipids (OxPls) generated in the MOM during oxidative stress directly affect the onset and progression of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Here we use MOM-mimicking lipid vesicles doped with varying concentrations of 1-palmitoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PazePC), an OxPl species known to significantly enhance Bax-membrane association, to investigate three key aspects of Bax's action at the MOM: 1) induction of Bax pores in membranes without additional mediator proteins, 2) existence of a threshold OxPl concentration required for Bax-membrane action and 3) mechanism by which PazePC disturbs membrane organization to facilitate Bax penetration. Fluorescence leakage studies revealed that Bax-induced leakage, especially its rate, increased with the vesicles' PazePC content without any detectable threshold neither for OxPl nor Bax. Moreover, the leakage rate correlated with the Bax to lipid ratio and the PazePC content. Solid state NMR studies and calorimetric experiments on the lipid vesicles confirmed that OxPl incorporation disrupted the membrane's organization, enabling Bax to penetrate into the membrane. In addition, 15N cross polarization (CP) and insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer (INEPT) MAS NMR experiments using uniformly 15N-labeled Bax revealed dynamically restricted helical segments of Bax embedded in the membrane, while highly flexible protein segments were located outside or at the membrane surface.
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| 8. |
- Niemiec, Moritz S., et al.
(författare)
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Enthalpy-entropy compensation at play in human copper ion transfer.
- 2015
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322 .- 2045-2322. ; 5, s. 10518-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element but toxic in free form. After cell uptake, Cu is transferred, via direct protein-protein interactions, from the chaperone Atox1 to the Wilson disease protein (WD) for incorporation into Cu-dependent enzymes. Cu binds to a conserved C(1)XXC(2) motif in the chaperone as well as in each of the cytoplasmic metal-binding domains of WD. Here, we dissect mechanism and thermodynamics of Cu transfer from Atox1 to the fourth metal binding domain of WD. Using chromatography and calorimetry together with single Cys-to-Ala variants, we demonstrate that Cu-dependent protein heterocomplexes require the presence of C(1) but not C(2). Comparison of thermodynamic parameters for mutant versus wild type reactions reveals that the wild type reaction involves strong entropy-enthalpy compensation. This property is explained by a dynamic inter-conversion of Cu-Cys coordinations in the wild type ensemble and may provide functional advantage by protecting against Cu mis-ligation and bypassing enthalpic traps.
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| 9. |
- Niemiec, Moritz S., et al.
(författare)
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T versus D in the MTCXXC motif of copper transport proteins plays a role in directional metal transport
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. - Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer. - 0949-8257 .- 1432-1327. ; 19:6, s. 1037-1047
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To avoid toxicity and control levels of metal ions, organisms have developed specific metal transport systems. In humans, the cytoplasmic Cu chaperone Atox1 delivers Cu to metal-binding domains of ATP7A/B in the Golgi, for incorporation into Cu-dependent proteins. The Cu-binding motif in Atox1, as well as in target Cu-binding domains of ATP7A/B, consists of a MX1CXXC motif where X-1 = T. The same motif, with X-1 = D, is found in metal-binding domains of bacterial zinc transporters, such as ZntA. The Asp is proposed to stabilize divalent over monovalent metals in the binding site, although metal selectivity in vivo appears predominantly governed by protein-protein interactions. To probe the role of T versus D at the X-1 position for Cu transfer in vitro, we created MDCXXC variants of Atox1 and the fourth metal-binding domain of ATP7B, WD4. We find that the mutants bind Cu like the wild-type proteins, but when mixed, in contrast to the wild-type pair, the mutant pair favors Cu-dependent hetero-dimers over directional Cu transport from Atox1 to WD4. Notably, both wild-type and mutant proteins can bind Zn in the absence of competing reducing agents. In presence of zinc, hetero-complexes are strongly favored for both protein pairs. We propose that T is conserved in this motif of Cu-transport proteins to promote directional metal transfer toward ATP7B, without formation of energetic sinks. The ability of both Atox1 and WD4 to bind zinc ions may not be a problem in vivo due to the presence of specific transport chains for Cu and Zn ions.
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| 10. |
- Ådén, Jörgen, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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A novel recombinant expression and purification approach for the full-length anti-apoptotic membrane protein Bcl-2
- 2020
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Ingår i: Protein Expression and Purification. - : Elsevier. - 1046-5928 .- 1096-0279. ; 172
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is an essential mechanism in life that tightly regulates embryogenesis and removal of harmful cells. Besides an extrinsic pathway, an intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway exists where mitochondria are actively involved in cellular clearance in response to internal stress signals. Pro-apoptotic (death) and anti-apoptotic (survival) members of the B cell CLL/lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein family meet at the mitochondrion's surface where they accurately regulate apoptosis. Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein is a hallmark for many types of cancers and in particular for many treatment resistant tumors. Bcl-2 is a membrane protein residing in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Due to its typical membrane protein features including very limited solubility, it is difficult to express and to purify. Therefore, most biophysical and structural studies have used truncated, soluble versions. However, to understand its membrane-coupled function and structure, access to sufficient amount of full-length human Bcl-2 protein is a necessity. Here, we present a novel, E. coli based approach for expression and purification of preparative amounts of the full-length human isoform 2 of Bcl-2 (Bcl-2(2)), solubilized in detergent micelles, which allows for easy exchange of the detergent.
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