Publication
Title
The right-handed parallel β-helix topology of Erwinia chrysanthemi pectin methylesterase Is intimately associated with both sequential folding and resistance to high pressure
Author
Abstract
The complex topologies of large multi-domain globular proteins make the study of their folding and assembly particularly demanding. It is often characterized by complex kinetics and undesired side reactions, such as aggregation. The structural simplicity of tandem-repeat proteins, which are characterized by the repetition of a basic structural motif and are stabilized exclusively by sequentially localized contacts, has provided opportunities for dissecting their folding landscapes. In this study, we focus on the Erwinia chrysanthemi pectin methylesterase (342 residues), an all-beta pectinolytic enzyme with a right-handed parallel beta-helix structure. Chemicals and pressure were chosen as denaturants and a variety of optical techniques were used in conjunction with stopped-flow equipment to investigate the folding mechanism of the enzyme at 25 degrees C. Under equilibrium conditions, both chemical- and pressure-induced unfolding show two-state transitions, with average conformational stability (Delta G degrees = 35 +/- 5 kJ.mol(-1)) but exceptionally high resistance to pressure (P-m = 800 +/- 7 MPa). Stopped-flow kinetic experiments revealed a very rapid (tau < 1 ms) hydrophobic collapse accompanied by the formation of an extended secondary structure but did not reveal stable tertiary contacts. This is followed by three distinct cooperative phases and the significant population of two intermediate species. The kinetics followed by intrinsic fluorescence shows a lag phase, strongly indicating that these intermediates are productive species on a sequential folding pathway, for which we propose a plausible model. These combined data demonstrate that even a large repeat protein can fold in a highly cooperative manner.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Biomolecules
Publication
2021
ISSN
2218-273X
DOI
10.3390/BIOM11081083
Volume/pages
11 :8 (2021) , 26 p.
Article Reference
1083
ISI
000688986200001
Pubmed ID
34439750
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.10.2021
Last edited 02.10.2024
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