Physical nature of signal peptide binding to DmsD.

Here we describe the biophysical characterization of the interaction of the redox enzyme maturation protein DmsD with the signal peptide of its target protein, DmsA. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and an in vitro Far-Western assay is used to show that DmsD binds the twin-arginine signal peptide from DmsA in the micromolar range and in a 1:1 molar ratio. The SEC also shows that there is no oligomerization upon binding.

An evaluation of in vitro protein-protein interaction techniques: assessing contaminating background proteins.

Determination of protein-protein interactions is an important component in assigning function and discerning the biological relevance of proteins within a broader cellular context. In vitro protein-protein interaction methodologies, including affinity chromatography, coimmunoprecipitation, and newer approaches such as protein chip arrays, hold much promise in the detection of protein interactions, particularly in well-characterized organisms with sequenced genomes. However, each of these approaches attracts certain background proteins that can thwart detection and identification of true interactors.

Organic solvent extracted EmrE solubilized in dodecyl maltoside is monomeric and binds drug ligand.

Ethidium multidrug resistance protein (EmrE) is a member of the small multidrug resistance family of proteins and is responsible for resistance to a diverse group of lipophilic cations. To examine the multimeric state(s), size-exclusion HPLC and sedimentation velocity experiments were performed with EmrE solubilized in N-dodecyl-beta-d-maltopyranoside (DM) detergent. EmrE was purified from Escherichia coli membranes using organic extraction with a 3:1 chloroform:methanol solvent followed by LH-20 chromatography and the recovered pure protein was re-solubilized in a buffer containing 2% DM.

Folding forms of Escherichia coli DmsD, a twin-arginine leader binding protein.

Escherichia coli DmsD interacts with the twin-arginine leader sequence of the catalytic sub-unit (DmsA) of DMSO reductase. DmsD was purified as a mixture of a number of different folding forms including: dimer (A); monomer (B); a minor thiol oxidized form; a heterogeneously folded or multi-conformational monomer form which displayed a ladder of bands on native-PAGE (D); and proteolytically degraded and aggregated forms. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), under denaturing and non-denaturing conditions, was used to examine the folding and stability of DmsD.

Examination of EmrE conformational differences in various membrane mimetic environments.

Ethidium multidrug resistance protein (EmrE) is a member of the small multidrug resistance family of proteins and is responsible for resistance in Escherichia coli to a diverse group of lipophilic cations. Research is beginning to elucidate structural information as well as substrate binding and extrusion mechanisms for this protein. However, the choice of membrane mimetic environment to perform structural studies needs to be made.

Optimization of expression and the purification by organic extraction of the integral membrane protein EmrE.

EmrE is a member of the small multidrug resistance family of proteins and functions as a efflux transporter of lipophilic cations. This integral membrane protein is composed of 110 amino acids and is very hydrophobic with small loops exposed to the aqueous environment. This protein has been purified in a variety of ways including extraction with chloroform:methanol mixtures.