The mechanochemistry of copper reports on the directionality of unfolding in model cupredoxin proteins
نویسندگان
چکیده
Understanding the directionality and sequence of protein unfolding is crucial to elucidate the underlying folding free energy landscape. An extra layer of complexity is added in metalloproteins, where a metal cofactor participates in the correct, functional fold of the protein. However, the precise mechanisms by which organometallic interactions are dynamically broken and reformed on (un)folding are largely unknown. Here we use single molecule force spectroscopy AFM combined with protein engineering and MD simulations to study the individual unfolding pathways of the blue-copper proteins azurin and plastocyanin. Using the nanomechanical properties of the native copper centre as a structurally embedded molecular reporter, we demonstrate that both proteins unfold via two independent, competing pathways. Our results provide experimental evidence of a novel kinetic partitioning scenario whereby the protein can stochastically unfold through two distinct main transition states placed at the N and C termini that dictate the direction in which unfolding occurs.
منابع مشابه
In vitro unfolding of yeast multicopper oxidase Fet3p variants reveals unique role of each metal site.
Fet3p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a multicopper oxidase (MCO) that contains 3 cupredoxin-like beta-barrel domains and 4 copper ions located in 3 distinct metal sites (T1 in domain 3, T2, and the binuclear T3 at the interface between domains 1 and 3). To better understand how protein structure and stability is defined by cofactor coordination in MCO proteins, we assessed thermal unfolding o...
متن کاملIdentification of novel cupredoxin homologs using overlapped conserved residues based approach.
Cupredoxin-like proteins are mainly copper-binding proteins that conserve a typical rigid Greek-key arrangement consisting of an eight-stranded β-sandwich, even though they share as little as 10-15% sequence similarity. The electron transport function of the Cupredoxins is critical for respiration and photosynthesis, and the proteins have therapeutic potential. Despite their crucial biological ...
متن کاملSynergistic Effects of Copper Sites on Apparent Stability of Multicopper Oxidase, Fet3p
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fet3p is a multicopper oxidase that contains three cupredoxin-like domains and four copper ions located in three distinct metal sites (T1 in domain 3; T2 and the binuclear T3 at the interface between domains 1 and 3). To probe the role of the copper sites in Fet3p thermodynamic stability, we performed urea-induced unfolding experiments with holo-, apo- and three partial...
متن کاملCupredoxin-like domains in haemocyanins.
Haemocyanins are multimeric oxygen transport proteins, which bind oxygen to type 3 copper sites. Arthropod haemocyanins contain 75-kDa subunits, whereas molluscan haemocyanins contain 350-400-kDa subunits comprising seven or eight different 50 kDa FUs (functional units) designated FU-a to FU-h, each with an active site. FU-h possesses a tail of 100 amino acids not present in the other FUs. In t...
متن کاملSpectroscopic Characterization of a Green Copper Site in a Single-Domain Cupredoxin
Cupredoxins are widespread copper-binding proteins, mainly involved in electron transfer pathways. They display a typical rigid greek key motif consisting of an eight stranded β-sandwich. A fascinating feature of cupredoxins is the natural diversity of their copper center geometry. These geometry variations give rise to drastic changes in their color, such as blue, green, red or purple. Based o...
متن کامل