Transcript domains
Lecture 12
– Domains
– Protein structure
Some common structural motifs of folded proteins
d) The bab
motif
Several bab motifs combine to form a superbarrel in the
glycolysis enzyme triose phosphate isomerase (TIM barrel)
Quaternary structure
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Spatial arrangement of protein subunits.
Polypeptide subunits associate in a geometrically specific manner.
Why subunits?
Easier to repair self-assembling single subunit vs. a large
polypeptide.
• Increasing a protein’s size through subunits is more efficient for
specifying the active site.
• Provides a structural basis for regulating activity.
Domains in proteins.
• Common sequence regions in native proteins can
fold up to form compact structures called
“domains”.
• Domains can range in size from 50-400 amino
acids, have upper limit in forming compact
hydrophobic core.
• Domains are a type of folding motif, typically have
separate hydrophobic core.
• Larger proteins are composed of multiple
domains, often connected by flexible linker
peptide regions.
• Classic example: antibodies
Antibody Immunoglobulin Domains
Structural elements of IgGs:
Naturally occurring immunoglobulins (IgG molecules) have identical heavy chains and light
chains giving rise to multiple binding sites with identical specificities for antigen.
Antibody Immunoglobulin Domains
Antibodies are composed of:
V (for variable) regions - encodes the
antigen binding activity
C (for constant) regions - encodes
immune response signal/effector
functions:
1.
Complement fixation (activation
of complement cascade)
2.
Binding and activation of Ig
receptors (transport from
maternal source, activate
immune system T cells to engulf,
destroy foreign cells, particles,
proteins)
3.
Also binds bacterial Protein A,
Protein G (used in purification)
Note: dashed lines indicate
interchain disulfide bonds
Antibody Immunoglobulin Domains
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There is a conserved glycosylation site in the CH2 domain of IgG (purple
region).
A carbohydrate is covalently attached here by postranslational
modification.
Antibody Immunoglobulin Domains
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IgG secondary/tertiary structure: multiple beta-sheet domains.
Termed “immunoglobulin domain”.
Repeated motif in many immune and receptor proteins.
Antibody Immunoglobulin Domains
Modes of Flexibility of IgG structure
Subunit interactions
• Identical subunits in a protein are called protomers
• Proteins with identical subunits are oligomers.
• Hemoglobin is a dimer (oligomer of two protomers) of
abprotomers.
The structure of hemoglobin, highlighting its secondary,
tertiary, and quaternary elements.
Unlike monomeric myoglobin, hemoglobin is a tetramer!
Alternate VMD generated structure of hemoglobin,
highlighting its secondary, tertiary, and quaternary
elements.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Unlike monomeric myoglobin, hemoglobin is a tetramer!
Symmetry in proteins
• Most oligomeric proteins, protomers are symmetrically arranged.
• Occupy geometrically equivalent positions in the oligomer.
• Have point symmetry around one point-no mirror symmetry but
have rotational symmetry.
– Cyclic symmetry
– Dihedral symmetry
– Other rotational symmetries
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Figure 8-64a Some possible symmetries of proteins
with identical protometers. (a) Assemblies with the
cyclic symmetries C2, C3, and C5.
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Figure 8-65 A dimer of transthyretin as viewed down
its twofold axis (red lenticular symbol).
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Figure 8-63 The quaternary
structure of hemoglobin.
Figure 8-64bSome possible symmetries of proteins
with identical protometers. (b) Assemblies with the
dihedral symmetries D2, D4, and D3.
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Figure 8-66a X-Ray structure of
glutamine synthease from Salmonella
typhimurium.
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Figure 8-66b X-Ray structure of
glutamine synthease from Salmonella
typhimurium.
Figure 8-64c Some possible symmetries of proteins
with identical protometers. (c) Assemblies with T, O,
and I symmetries.
Structure of protoporphyrin IX.
Structure of the heme prosthetic group, protoporphyrin
IX plus iron.
The oxygen binding curves of myoglobin and hemoglobin obtained by
measuring the percent of heme sites filled with O2 at varying O2
concentrations
Myoglobin has
greater affinity for
O2 than
hemoglobin at all
partial pressures
(conc.) of oxygen.
The sigmoidal
curve for
hemoglobin
indicates a
cooperative
binding of O2.
-Allosteric effect!
The heme binding site for oxygen in hemoglobin
• Note the Fe(II) in
the protoporphyrin
structure is linked
to a histidine in ahelix F by a
coordinate
covalent bond.
• When O2 is not
bound, the 6th
position is
protected from
water oxidation by
a 2nd His from ahelix E.
Hemoglobin cooperative binding of O2 - Allostery
The sigmoidal (S-shaped) curve for
hemoglobin tetramer indicates
cooperative binding of O2.
1. Hb + O2 Hb(O2)
2. Hb(O2) + O2 Hb(O2)2
3. Hb(O2)2 + O2 Hb(O2)3
4. Hb(O2)3 + O2 Hb(O2)4
Increasing affinity for O2
Affinity for O2 is increased at each of the remaining sites
when first heme Fe(II) site is bound to O2.
Cooperative Binding - allosteric interactions - “through space”
Polypeptide chains change conformation upon heme
binding O2
O2 Binding to Hb shows positive
cooperativity
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Hb binds four O2 molecules
O2 affinity increases as each O2 molecule binds
Increased affinity due to conformation change
Deoxygenated form = T (tense) form = low affinity
Oxygenated form = R (relaxed) form = high affinity
O2 Binding to Hb shows positive
cooperativity
The Bohr effect.
The affinity of
hemoglobin for
oxygen decreases
with a decrease in pH.
This causes enhanced
release of oxygen
from oxyhemoglobin
in muscle.
CO2, H+ bind to
hemoglobin at other
sites, alter protein
conformation and O2
affinity.
Amino acid substitutions in mutant hemoglobins
Estimated 5 in 1000 individuals have mutation in hemoglobin
Structural Bioinformatics
• Atomic coordinates of most known macromolecular
structures (>20,000) are in the Protein Data Bank
(PDB).
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No. of structures grows at ~ 2500 per year.
Each structure has a unique 4-character PDBid.
First character is a digit (1-9) followed by letters.
Ex. 1MBO is the PDBid for myoglobin.
Structural Bioinformatics
• Files contain info that describes the macromolecule
• Date the coordinate file was deposited
• Organism
• Authors
• Key journal references
• PDB file consists of a series of ATOM (for standard
residues) and HETATM (for heterogens; not among the
std. amino acids).
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Table 8-4 (top)
Structural
Bioinformatics Websites
(URLs).
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Table 8-4 (middle)
Structural
Bioinformatics Websites (URLs).
Structural classification and comparison
• CATH (Class, Architecture, Topology, Homologous
superfamily)
1. Class-highest level-places the selected protein into 1 of
4 categories of secondary structure (mostly a, mostly b,
ab and having few secondary structures.
2. Architecture-description of the gross arrangement of
secondary structure, independent of topology.
3. Topology-indicative of overall shape and connectivity
of protein’s secondary structures.
4. Homologous superfamily-proteins of known structure
that are homologous (share a common ancestor) to a
selected protein.
What is the CATH classification for 1MBO?
Structural classification and comparison
• CE (Combinatorial Extension of the optimal path)
• Finds all proteins in the PDB that can be structurally
aligned with the query structure (structural
alignment).
• Can be displayed with RasMol
• FSSP (Fold classification based on Structure-Structure
alignment of Proteins)
• Lists protein structures in PDB which in part,
structurally resemble the query protein.
• Can be displayed using Chime.
Structural classification and comparison
• SCOP (Structural Classification Of Proteins)
• Classifies protein structures based mainly on manually
generated toplogical considerations (6-levels)
1. Class-all-a, all-b, ab(having a helices and b strands that are
largely interspersed), ab (having a helices and b strands that are
largely segregated), and multi-domian (having domains of different
classes)
2. Fold-groups that have similar arrangements of 2ndary structural
elements.
3. Superfamily-distant evolutionary relationships basd on structural
criteria and functional features
4. Family-near evolutionary relationships based on sequence and
structure
5. Protein
6. Species
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Table 8-4 (bottom)
Structural
Bioinformatics Websites (URLs)
Exam
• Study the HW assignments-similar problems will make up the bulk
of the exam.
• All notes and chapters in the book are fair game for the exam.