Viscoelasticity of thin biomolecular films: a case study on nucleoporin phenylalanine-glycine repeats grafted to a histidine-tag capturing QCM-D sensor.

Immobilization of proteins onto surfaces is useful for the controlled generation of biomolecular assemblies that can be readily characterized with in situ label-free surface-sensitive techniques. Here we analyze the performance of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) sensor surface that enables the selective and oriented immobilization of histidine-tagged molecules for morphological and interaction studies. More specifically, we characterize monolayers of natively unfolded nucleoporin domains that are rich in phenylalanine-glycine repeats (FGRDs).

Mechanistic understanding of protein-silicone oil interactions.

Purpose: To investigate interactions between protein and silicone oil so that we can provide some mechanistic understanding of protein aggregation in silicone oil lubricated syringes and its prevention by formulation additives such as Polysorbate 80 and Poloxamer 188.

Methods: Interfacial tension values of silicone oil/water interface of abatacept solutions with and without formulation additives were obtained under equilibrium conditions using Attension Theta optical tensiometer. Their adsorption and desorption profiles were measured using Quartz Crystal Microbalancing with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D).

The effect of Parkinson's-disease-associated mutations on the deubiquitinating enzyme UCH-L1.

The neuronal ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH) UCH-L1 has been linked to Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we present a study on the structure, stability, unfolding, and dynamics of wild-type and mutant UCH-L1. Fluorescence, far-UV CD, and NMR measurements were used to establish that the unfolding of UCH-L1 is three-state under equilibrium conditions and that an intermediate is populated.

Backbone assignments of the 26 kDa neuron-specific ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1).

UCH-L1 is a member of the family of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases whose primary role is to hydrolyze small C-terminal adducts of ubiquitin to generate free ubiquitin monomers. Expression of UCH-L1 is highly specific to neurons and point mutations in this enzyme are associated with a hereditary form of Parkinson's disease. Herein, we present the NMR backbone assignments of human UCH-L1, thus enabling future solution-state NMR spectroscopic studies on the structure and function of this important protein.

Untangling the folding mechanism of the 5(2)-knotted protein UCH-L3.

Proteins possessing deeply embedded topological knots in their structure add a stimulating new challenge to the already complex protein-folding problem. The most complicated knotted topology observed to date belongs to the human enzyme ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase UCH-L3, which is an integral part of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The structure of UCH-L3 contains five distinct crossings of its polypeptide chain, and it adopts a 5(2)-knotted topology, making it a fascinating target for folding studies.

Structure and function of a novel type of ATP-dependent Clp protease.

The Clp protease is conserved among eubacteria and most eukaryotes, and uses ATP to drive protein substrate unfolding and translocation into a chamber of sequestered proteolytic active sites. The main constitutive Clp protease in photosynthetic organisms has evolved into a functionally essential and structurally intricate enzyme. The model Clp protease from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus consists of the HSP100 molecular chaperone ClpC and a mixed proteolytic core comprised of two distinct subunits, ClpP3 and ClpR.

Distinctive types of ATP-dependent Clp proteases in cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria are the only prokaryotes that perform oxygenic photosynthesis and are thought to be ancestors to plant chloroplasts. Like chloroplasts, cyanobacteria possess a diverse array of proteolytic enzymes, with one of the most prominent being the ATP-dependent Ser-type Clp protease. The model Clp protease in Escherichia coli consists of a single ClpP proteolytic core flanked on one or both ends by a HSP100 chaperone partner.

Cyanobacterial ClpC/HSP100 protein displays intrinsic chaperone activity.

HSP100 proteins are molecular chaperones that belong to the broader family of AAA+ proteins (ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities) known to promote protein unfolding, disassembly of protein complexes and translocation of proteins across membranes. The ClpC form of HSP100 is an essential, highly conserved, constitutively expressed protein in cyanobacteria and plant chloroplasts, and yet little is known regarding its specific activity as a molecular chaperone. To address this point, ClpC from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus (SyClpC) was purified using an Escherichia coli-based overexpression system.