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Structure

 
Articles from the last few issues of Structure © Elsevier
 

The Crystal Structure of the MAP Kinase LmaMPK10 from Leishmania Major Reveals Parasite-Specific Features and Regulatory Mechanisms

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1649-1660, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.005

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are involved in environmental signal sensing. They are thus expected to play key roles in the biology of Trypanosomatid parasites, which display complex life cycles and use extracellular cues to modulate cell differentiation. Despite their relevance, structural data of Trypanosomatid MAPKs is lacking. We have now determined the crystal structure of Leishmania major LmaMPK10, a stage-specifically activated MAPK, both alone and in complex with SB203580. LmaMPK10 was observed to be more similar to p38 than to other human ...

 

Mechanism for Template-Independent Terminal Adenylation Activity of Qβ Replicase

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1661-1669, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.004

Abstract

The genomic RNA of Qβ virus is replicated by Qβ replicase, a template-dependent RNA polymerase complex. Qβ replicase has an intrinsic template-independent RNA 3′-adenylation activity, which is required for efficient viral RNA amplification in the host cells. However, the mechanism of the template-independent 3′-adenylation of RNAs by Qβ replicase has remained elusive. We determined the structure of a complex that includes Qβ replicase, a template RNA, a growing RNA complementary to the template RNA, and ATP. The structure represents the terminal stage ...

 

ATP-Driven Remodeling of the Linker Domain in the Dynein Motor

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1670-1680, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.003

Abstract

Dynein ATPases are the largest known cytoskeletal motors and perform critical functions in cells: carrying cargo along microtubules in the cytoplasm and powering flagellar beating. Dyneins are members of the AAA+ superfamily of ring-shaped enzymes, but how they harness this architecture to produce movement is poorly understood. Here, we have used cryo-EM to determine 3D maps of native flagellar dynein-c and a cytoplasmic dynein motor domain in different nucleotide states. The structures show key sites of conformational change within the AAA+ ...

 

Distinct States of Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase Indicate Inhibitor Binding by Conformational Selection

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1681-1691, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.011

Abstract

To guide development of new drugs targeting methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) for treatment of human African trypanosomiasis, crystal structure determinations of Trypanosoma brucei MetRS in complex with its substrate methionine and its intermediate product methionyl-adenylate were followed by those of the enzyme in complex with high-affinity aminoquinolone inhibitors via soaking experiments. Drastic changes in conformation of one of the two enzymes in the asymmetric unit allowed these inhibitors to occupy an enlarged methionine pocket and a new so-called auxiliary pocket. Interestingly, a small ...

 

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia Coli Exploits a Tryptophan Switch to Hijack Host F-Actin Assembly

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1692-1703, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.015

Abstract

Intrinsically disordered protein (IDP)-mediated interactions are often characterized by low affinity but high specificity. These traits are essential in signaling and regulation that require reversibility. Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) exploit this situation by commandeering host cytoskeletal signaling to stimulate actin assembly beneath bound bacteria, generating “pedestals” that promote intestinal colonization. EHEC translocates two proteins, EspFU and Tir, which form a complex with the host protein IRTKS. The interaction of this complex with N-WASP triggers localized actin polymerization. We show that EspFU ...

 

The Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of the NF-κB Inducing Kinase Reveals a Narrow but Flexible Active Site

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1704-1714, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.013

Abstract

The NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) regulates the non-canonical NF-κB pathway downstream of important clinical targets including BAFF, RANKL, and LTβ. Despite numerous genetic studies associating dysregulation of this pathway with autoimmune diseases and hematological cancers, detailed molecular characterization of this central signaling node has been lacking. We undertook a systematic cloning and expression effort to generate soluble, well-behaved proteins encompassing the kinase domains of human and murine NIK. Structures of the apo NIK kinase domain from both species reveal an active-like ...

 

Identification of Unknown Protein Function Using Metabolite Cocktail Screening

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1715-1725, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.016

Abstract

Proteins of unknown function comprise a significant fraction of sequenced genomes. Defining the roles of these proteins is vital to understanding cellular processes. Here, we describe a method to determine a protein function based on the identification of its natural ligand(s) by the crystallographic screening of the binding of a metabolite library, followed by a focused search in the metabolic space. The method was applied to two protein families with unknown function, PF01256 and YjeF_N. The PF01256 proteins, represented by YxkO ...

 

Structural Basis for the Versatile Interactions of Smad7 with Regulator WW Domains in TGF-β Pathways

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1726-1736, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.014

Abstract

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and BMP signaling is mediated by Smads 1–5 (R-Smads and Co-Smads) and inhibited by Smad7, a major hub of regulation of TGF-β and BMP receptors by negative feedback and antagonistic signals. The transcription coactivator YAP and the E3 ubiquitin ligases Smurf1/2 and Nedd4L target R-Smads for activation or degradation, respectively. Pairs of WW domain in these regulators bind PY motifs and adjacent CDK/MAPK and GSK3 phosphorylation sites in R-Smads in a selective and regulated manner. In contrast, ...

 

Structure of an Asymmetric Ternary Protein Complex Provides Insight for Membrane Interaction

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1737-1745, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.004

Abstract

Plasma membrane repair involves the coordinated effort of proteins and the inner phospholipid surface to mend the rupture and return the cell back to homeostasis. Here, we present the three-dimensional structure of a multiprotein complex that includes S100A10, annexin A2, and AHNAK, which along with dysferlin, functions in muscle and cardiac tissue repair. The 3.5 Å resolution X-ray structure shows that a single region from the AHNAK C terminus is recruited by an S100A10-annexin A2 heterotetramer, forming an asymmetric ternary complex. The AHNAK ...

 

The Molecular Basis for Substrate Specificity of the Nuclear NIPP1:PP1 Holoenzyme

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1746-1756, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.003

Abstract

Regulation of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) is controlled by a diverse array of regulatory proteins. However, how these proteins direct PP1 specificity is not well understood. More than one-third of the nuclear pool of PP1 forms a holoenzyme with the nuclear inhibitor of PP1, NIPP1, to regulate chromatin remodeling, among other essential biological functions. Here, we show that the PP1-binding domain of NIPP1 is an intrinsically disordered protein, which binds PP1 in an unexpected manner. NIPP1 forms an α helix that ...

 

DNA Minor Groove Sensing and Widening by the CCAAT-Binding Complex

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1757-1768, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.012

Abstract

The CCAAT box is a frequent element of eukaryotic promoters, and its specific recognition by the conserved heterotrimeric CCAAT-binding complex (CBC) constitutes a key step in promoter organization and regulation of transcription. Here, we report the crystal structures of the CBC from Aspergillus nidulans in the absence and in complex with double-stranded DNA at 1.8 Å resolution. The histone-like subunits HapC and HapE induce nucleosome-like DNA bending by interacting with the sugar-phosphate backbone. Minor groove sensing and widening by subunit HapB tightly ...

 

Activation of tRNA Maturation by Downstream Uracil Residues in B. subtilis

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1769-1777, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.002

Abstract

Ribonuclease (RNase) Z is involved in the maturation of the 3′ ends of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) in all three kingdoms of life. To prevent futile cycles of CCA addition and removal, eukaryotic RNase Z discriminates against mature tRNAs bearing a CCA motif, with the first cytosine residue (C74) being the key antideterminant. Here, we show that, remarkably, the B. subtilis enzyme does not discriminate against cytosine in position 74, but rather is highly stimulated by uracil in this location. Consistent with this ...

 

An RTX Transporter Tethers Its Unfolded Substrate during Secretion via a Unique N-Terminal Domain

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1778-1787, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.005

Abstract

Type 1 secretion systems (T1SS) catalyze the one step protein transport across the membranes of Gram-negative bacteria and are composed of an outer membrane protein, a membrane fusion protein and an ABC transporter. The ABC transporter consists of the canonical nucleotide binding and transmembrane domains. For the toxin hemolysin A (HlyA), the ABC transporter HlyB carries an additional, N-terminal domain sharing about 40% homology to C39 peptidases, but this “C39-like domain” (CLD) is suggested to feature another, yet unknown function. Our ...

 

The CDK9 Tail Determines the Reaction Pathway of Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 10. (October 2012), pp. 1788-1795, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.011

Abstract

CDK9, the kinase of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), stimulates transcription elongation by phosphorylating RNA polymerase II and transcription elongation factors. Using kinetic analysis of a human P-TEFb complex consisting of CDK9 and cyclin T, we show that the CDK9 C-terminal tail sequence is important for the catalytic mechanism and imposes an ordered binding of substrates and release of products. Crystallographic analysis of a CDK9/cyclin T complex in which the C-terminal tail partially blocks the ATP binding site reveals a ...

 

Structure of NPP1, an Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase Involved in Tissue Calcification

  [CiTO]
Structure (October 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.09.001

Abstract

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) converts extracellular nucleotides into inorganic pyrophosphate, whereas its close relative NPP2/autotaxin hydrolyzes lysophospholipids. NPP1 regulates calcification in mineralization-competent tissues, and a lack of NPP1 function underlies calcification disorders. Here, we show that NPP1 forms homodimers via intramembrane disulfide bonding, but is also processed intracellularly to a secreted monomer. The structure of secreted NPP1 reveals a characteristic bimetallic active site and a nucleotide-binding groove, but it lacks the lipid-binding pocket and open tunnel present in NPP2. A loop adjacent to the ...

 

Structures of the Phactr1 RPEL Domain and RPEL Motif Complexes with G-Actin Reveal the Molecular Basis for Actin Binding Cooperativity

  [CiTO]
Structure (October 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.031

Abstract

The Phactr family of PP1-binding proteins and the myocardin-related transcription factor family of transcriptional coactivators contain regulatory domains comprising three copies of the RPEL motif, a G-actin binding element. We report the structure of a Phactr1 G-actin⋅RPEL domain complex. Three G-actins surround the crank-shaped RPEL domain forming a closed helical assembly. Their spatial relationship is identical to the RPEL-actins within the pentavalent MRTF G-actin⋅RPEL domain complex, suggesting that conserved cooperative interactions between actin⋅RPEL units organize the assembly. In the trivalent Phactr1 complex, ...

 

RANKL Employs Distinct Binding Modes to Engage RANK and the Osteoprotegerin Decoy Receptor

  [CiTO]
Structure (October 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.030

Abstract

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) are members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily that regulate osteoclast formation and function by competing for RANK ligand (RANKL). RANKL promotes osteoclast development through RANK activation, while OPG inhibits this process by sequestering RANKL. For comparison, we solved crystal structures of RANKL with RANK and RANKL with OPG. Complementary biochemical and functional studies reveal that the monomeric cytokine-binding region of OPG binds RANKL with ∼500-fold higher affinity than ...

 

Movies of Ice-Embedded Particles Enhance Resolution in Electron Cryo-Microscopy

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.026

Abstract

Low-dose images obtained by electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) are often affected by blurring caused by sample motion during electron beam exposure, degrading signal especially at high resolution. We show here that we can align frames of movies, recorded with a direct electron detector during beam exposure of rotavirus double-layered particles, thereby greatly reducing image blurring caused by beam-induced motion and sample stage instabilities. This procedure increases the efficiency of cryo-EM imaging and enhances the resolution obtained in three-dimensional reconstructions of the particle. ...

 

Visualizing the Determinants of Viral RNA Recognition by Innate Immune Sensor RIG-I

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.029

Abstract

Retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is a key intracellular immune receptor for pathogenic RNAs, particularly from RNA viruses. Here, we report the crystal structure of human RIG-I bound to a 5′ triphosphorylated RNA hairpin and ADP nucleotide at 2.8 Å resolution. The RNA ligand contains all structural features that are essential for optimal recognition by RIG-I, as it mimics the panhandle-like signatures within the genome of negative-stranded RNA viruses. RIG-I adopts an intermediate, semiclosed conformation in this product state of ATP hydrolysis. ...

 

Structure of the Essential MTERF4:NSUN4 Protein Complex Reveals How an MTERF Protein Collaborates to Facilitate rRNA Modification

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.027

Abstract

MTERF4 is the first MTERF family member shown to bind RNA and plays an essential role as a regulator of ribosomal biogenesis in mammalian mitochondria. It forms a complex with the rRNA methyltransferase NSUN4 and recruits it to the large ribosomal subunit. In this article, we characterize the interaction between both proteins, demonstrate that MTERF4 strongly stimulates the specificity of NSUN4 during in vitro methylation experiments, and present the 2.0 Å resolution crystal structure of the MTERF4:NSUN4 protein complex, lacking 48 residues of ...

 

The Survival Motor Neuron Protein Forms Soluble Glycine Zipper Oligomers

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.024

Abstract

The survival motor neuron (SMN) protein forms the oligomeric core of a multiprotein complex that functions in spliceosomal snRNP biogenesis. Loss of function mutations in the SMN gene cause spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. Nearly half of the known SMA patient missense mutations map to the SMN YG-box, a highly conserved oligomerization domain of unknown structure that contains a (YxxG)3 motif. Here, we report that the SMN YG-box forms helical oligomers similar to the glycine ...

 

Solution Conformations of Prototype Foamy Virus Integrase and Its Stable Synaptic Complex with U5 Viral DNA

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.023

Abstract

Using small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS), in combination with analytical centrifugation and light scattering, we have determined the solution properties of PFV IN alone and its synaptic complex with processed U5 viral DNA and related these properties to models derived from available crystal structures. PFV IN is a monomer in solution, and SAXS analysis indicates an ensemble of conformations that differ from that observed in the crystallographic DNA-bound state. Scattering data indicate that the PFV intasome adopts a shape in ...

 

Crystal Structure of the Yeast Vacuolar ATPase Heterotrimeric EGChead Peripheral Stalk Complex

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.020

Abstract

Vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPases) are multisubunit rotary motor proton pumps that function to acidify subcellular organelles in all eukaryotic organisms. V-ATPase is regulated by a unique mechanism that involves reversible dissociation into V1-ATPase and Vo proton channel, a process that involves breaking of protein interactions mediated by subunit C, the cytoplasmic domain of subunit “a” and three “peripheral stalks,” each made of a heterodimer of E and G subunits. Here, we present crystal structures of a yeast V-ATPase heterotrimeric complex composed of EG ...

 

The Structure of the Plk4 Cryptic Polo Box Reveals Two Tandem Polo Boxes Required for Centriole Duplication

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.025

Abstract

Centrioles are key microtubule polarity determinants. Centriole duplication is tightly controlled to prevent cells from developing multipolar spindles, a situation that promotes chromosomal instability. A conserved component in the duplication pathway is Plk4, a polo kinase family member that localizes to centrioles in M/G1. To limit centriole duplication, Plk4 levels are controlled through trans-autophosphorylation that primes ubiquitination. In contrast to Plks 1-3, Plk4 possesses a unique central region called the “cryptic polo box.” Here, we present the crystal structure of this ...

 

Proton-Coupled Dynamics in Lactose Permease

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.021

Abstract

Lactose permease of Escherichia coli (LacY) catalyzes symport of a galactopyranoside and an H+ via an alternating access mechanism. The transition from an inward- to an outward-facing conformation of LacY involves sugar-release followed by deprotonation. Because the transition depends intimately upon the dynamics of LacY in a bilayer environment, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations may be the only means of following the accompanying structural changes in atomic detail. Here, we describe MD simulations of wild-type apo LacY in phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) lipids that ...

 

Allosteric Mechanism Controls Traffic in the Chaperone/Usher Pathway

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.016

Abstract

Many virulence organelles of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are assembled via the chaperone/usher pathway. The chaperone transports organelle subunits across the periplasm to the outer membrane usher, where they are released and incorporated into growing fibers. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of the usher-targeting step in assembly of the Yersinia pestis F1 capsule at the atomic level. The usher interacts almost exclusively with the chaperone in the chaperone:subunit complex. In free chaperone, a pair of conserved proline residues at the beginning of ...

 

POT1-TPP1 Regulates Telomeric Overhang Structural Dynamics

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.018

Abstract

Human telomeres possess a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) overhang of TTAGGG repeats, which can self-fold into a G-quadruplex structure. POT1 binds specifically to the telomeric overhang and partners with TPP1 to regulate telomere lengthening and capping, although the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that POT1 binds stably to folded telomeric G-quadruplex DNA in a sequential manner, one oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding fold at a time. POT1 binds from 3′ to 5′, thereby unfolding the G-quadruplex in a stepwise manner. In contrast, the POT1-TPP1 complex ...

 

Autoproteolytic and Catalytic Mechanisms for the β-Aminopeptidase BapA—A Member of the Ntn Hydrolase Family

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.07.017

Abstract

The β-aminopeptidase BapA from Sphingosinicella xenopeptidilytica belongs to the N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolases of the DmpA-like family and has the unprecedented property of cleaving N-terminal β-amino acid residues from peptides. We determined the crystal structures of the native (αβ)4 heterooctamer and of the 153 kDa precursor homotetramer at a resolution of 1.45 and 1.8 Å, respectively. These structures together with mutational analyses strongly support mechanisms for autoproteolysis and catalysis that involve residues Ser250, Ser288, and Glu290. The autoproteolytic mechanism is different from the one ...

 

Structures of dNTP Intermediate States during DNA Polymerase Active Site Assembly

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.008

Abstract

DNA polymerase and substrate conformational changes are essential for high-fidelity DNA synthesis. Structures of DNA polymerase (pol) β in complex with DNA show the enzyme in an “open” conformation. Subsequent to binding the nucleotide, the polymerase “closes” around the nascent base pair with two metals positioned for chemistry. However, structures of substrate/active site intermediates prior to closure are lacking. By destabilizing the closed complex, we determined unique ternary complex structures of pol β with correct and incorrect incoming nucleotides bound to ...

 

Comparative Dynamics of NMDA- and AMPA-Glutamate Receptor N-Terminal Domains

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.012

Abstract

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) harbor two extracellular domains: the membrane-proximal ligand-binding domain (LBD) and the distal N-terminal domain (NTD). These are involved in signal sensing: the LBD binds L-glutamate, which activates the receptor channel. Ligand binding to the NTD modulates channel function in the NMDA receptor subfamily of iGluRs, which has not been observed for the AMPAR subfamily to date. Structural data suggest that AMPAR NTDs are packed into tight dimers and have lost their signaling potential. Here, we assess NTD dynamics ...

 

Priming the Engine of DNA Synthesis

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1447-1448, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.013

Abstract

In this issue of Structure, Rymer and colleagues present the first crystal structures of a bacterial DnaG primase with bound substrate NTPs and alarmone inhibitors. A thoughtful comparative structural analysis provides important insights into the chemical mechanism of primase. ...

 

Conformational Changes in Motif D of RdRPs as Fidelity Determinant

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1448-1450, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.014

Abstract

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are the central players in both transcription and viral genome replication. Using NMR spectroscopy, Yang and colleagues (in this issue of Structure) show that the conformational changes in the structural motif D of poliovirus RdRP correlate with the nature of the bound nucleotide (correct versus incorrect), with a conserved lysine within this motif playing a key role. ...

 

Defense Systems Up: Structure of Subtype I-C/Dvulg CRISPR/Cas

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1450-1452, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.015

Abstract

The study of CRISPR/Cas systems for RNA-based prokaryotic immunity has emerged as a rapidly expanding frontier in RNA biology. In this issue of Structure, Nam and colleagues provide new clues to deciphering these complex systems in the characterization of a subtype I-C CRISPR/Cas complex. ...

 

Using Enhanced Sampling and Structural Restraints to Refine Atomic Structures into Low-Resolution Electron Microscopy Maps

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1453-1462, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.007

Abstract

For a variety of problems in structural biology, low-resolution maps generated by electron microscopy imaging are often interpreted with the help of various flexible-fitting computational algorithms. In this work, we systematically analyze the quality of final models of various proteins obtained via molecular dynamics flexible fitting (MDFF) by varying the map-resolution, strength of structural restraints, and the steering forces. We find that MDFF can be extended to understand conformational changes in lower-resolution maps if larger structural restraints and lower steering forces ...

 

Structure of the Pentameric Ligand-Gated Ion Channel GLIC Bound with Anesthetic Ketamine

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1463-1469, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.009

Abstract

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are targets of general anesthetics, but a structural understanding of anesthetic action on pLGICs remains elusive. GLIC, a prokaryotic pLGIC, can be inhibited by anesthetics, including ketamine. The ketamine concentration leading to half-maximal inhibition of GLIC (58 Î¼M) is comparable to that on neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. A 2.99 Å resolution X-ray structure of GLIC bound with ketamine revealed ketamine binding to an intersubunit cavity that partially overlaps with the homologous antagonist-binding site in pLGICs. The functional relevance ...

 

Internally Deleted Human tRNA Synthetase Suggests Evolutionary Pressure for Repurposing

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1470-1477, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.001

Abstract

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) catalyze aminoacylation of tRNAs in the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, AARSs also have critical extracellular and nuclear functions. Evolutionary pressure for new functions might be manifested by splice variants that skip only an internal catalytic domain (CD) and link noncatalytic N- and C-terminal polypeptides. Using disease-associated histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) as an example, we found an expressed 171-amino acid protein (HisRSÎCD) that deleted the entire CD, and joined an N-terminal WHEP to the C-terminal anticodon-binding domain (ABD). X-ray crystallography and three-dimensional NMR ...

 

Binding Mechanism of Metal⋅NTP Substrates and Stringent-Response Alarmones to Bacterial DnaG-Type Primases

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 9. (September 2012), pp. 1478-1489, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.05.017

Abstract

Primases are DNA-dependent RNA polymerases found in all cellular organisms. In bacteria, primer synthesis is carried out by DnaG, an essential enzyme that serves as a key component of DNA replication initiation, progression, and restart. How DnaG associates with nucleotide substrates and how certain naturally prevalent nucleotide analogs impair DnaG function are unknown. We have examined one of the earliest stages in primer synthesis and its control by solving crystal structures of the S. aureus DnaG catalytic core bound to metal ion ...

 

Structure of NPP1, an Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase Involved in Tissue Calcification

  [CiTO]
Structure (October 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.09.001

Abstract

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) converts extracellular nucleotides into inorganic pyrophosphate, whereas its close relative NPP2/autotaxin hydrolyzes lysophospholipids. NPP1 regulates calcification in mineralization-competent tissues, and a lack of NPP1 function underlies calcification disorders. Here, we show that NPP1 forms homodimers via intramembrane disulfide bonding, but is also processed intracellularly to a secreted monomer. The structure of secreted NPP1 reveals a characteristic bimetallic active site and a nucleotide-binding groove, but it lacks the lipid-binding pocket and open tunnel present in NPP2. A loop adjacent to the ...

 

Structures of the Phactr1 RPEL Domain and RPEL Motif Complexes with G-Actin Reveal the Molecular Basis for Actin Binding Cooperativity

  [CiTO]
Structure (October 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.031

Abstract

The Phactr family of PP1-binding proteins and the myocardin-related transcription factor family of transcriptional coactivators contain regulatory domains comprising three copies of the RPEL motif, a G-actin binding element. We report the structure of a Phactr1 G-actin⋅RPEL domain complex. Three G-actins surround the crank-shaped RPEL domain forming a closed helical assembly. Their spatial relationship is identical to the RPEL-actins within the pentavalent MRTF G-actin⋅RPEL domain complex, suggesting that conserved cooperative interactions between actin⋅RPEL units organize the assembly. In the trivalent Phactr1 complex, ...

 

RANKL Employs Distinct Binding Modes to Engage RANK and the Osteoprotegerin Decoy Receptor

  [CiTO]
Structure (October 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.030

Abstract

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) are members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily that regulate osteoclast formation and function by competing for RANK ligand (RANKL). RANKL promotes osteoclast development through RANK activation, while OPG inhibits this process by sequestering RANKL. For comparison, we solved crystal structures of RANKL with RANK and RANKL with OPG. Complementary biochemical and functional studies reveal that the monomeric cytokine-binding region of OPG binds RANKL with ∼500-fold higher affinity than ...

 

Movies of Ice-Embedded Particles Enhance Resolution in Electron Cryo-Microscopy

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.026

Abstract

Low-dose images obtained by electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) are often affected by blurring caused by sample motion during electron beam exposure, degrading signal especially at high resolution. We show here that we can align frames of movies, recorded with a direct electron detector during beam exposure of rotavirus double-layered particles, thereby greatly reducing image blurring caused by beam-induced motion and sample stage instabilities. This procedure increases the efficiency of cryo-EM imaging and enhances the resolution obtained in three-dimensional reconstructions of the particle. ...

 

Visualizing the Determinants of Viral RNA Recognition by Innate Immune Sensor RIG-I

  [CiTO]
Structure, Vol. 20, No. 11. (7 November 2012), pp. 1983-1988, doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.029
posted by 1 person samiahk

Abstract

Retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) is a key intracellular immune receptor for pathogenic RNAs, particularly from RNA viruses. Here, we report the crystal structure of human RIG-I bound to a 52 triphosphorylated RNA hairpin and ADP nucleotide at 2.8 Å resolution. The RNA ligand contains all structural features that are essential for optimal recognition by RIG-I, as it mimics the panhandle-like signatures within the genome of negative-stranded RNA viruses. RIG-I adopts an intermediate, semiclosed conformation in this product state of ATP hydrolysis. ...

 

Structure of the Essential MTERF4:NSUN4 Protein Complex Reveals How an MTERF Protein Collaborates to Facilitate rRNA Modification

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.027

Abstract

MTERF4 is the first MTERF family member shown to bind RNA and plays an essential role as a regulator of ribosomal biogenesis in mammalian mitochondria. It forms a complex with the rRNA methyltransferase NSUN4 and recruits it to the large ribosomal subunit. In this article, we characterize the interaction between both proteins, demonstrate that MTERF4 strongly stimulates the specificity of NSUN4 during in vitro methylation experiments, and present the 2.0 Å resolution crystal structure of the MTERF4:NSUN4 protein complex, lacking 48 residues of ...

 

The Survival Motor Neuron Protein Forms Soluble Glycine Zipper Oligomers

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.024

Abstract

The survival motor neuron (SMN) protein forms the oligomeric core of a multiprotein complex that functions in spliceosomal snRNP biogenesis. Loss of function mutations in the SMN gene cause spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. Nearly half of the known SMA patient missense mutations map to the SMN YG-box, a highly conserved oligomerization domain of unknown structure that contains a (YxxG)3 motif. Here, we report that the SMN YG-box forms helical oligomers similar to the glycine ...

 

Solution Conformations of Prototype Foamy Virus Integrase and Its Stable Synaptic Complex with U5 Viral DNA

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.023

Abstract

Using small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS), in combination with analytical centrifugation and light scattering, we have determined the solution properties of PFV IN alone and its synaptic complex with processed U5 viral DNA and related these properties to models derived from available crystal structures. PFV IN is a monomer in solution, and SAXS analysis indicates an ensemble of conformations that differ from that observed in the crystallographic DNA-bound state. Scattering data indicate that the PFV intasome adopts a shape in ...

 

Crystal Structure of the Yeast Vacuolar ATPase Heterotrimeric EGChead Peripheral Stalk Complex

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.020

Abstract

Vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPases) are multisubunit rotary motor proton pumps that function to acidify subcellular organelles in all eukaryotic organisms. V-ATPase is regulated by a unique mechanism that involves reversible dissociation into V1-ATPase and Vo proton channel, a process that involves breaking of protein interactions mediated by subunit C, the cytoplasmic domain of subunit “a” and three “peripheral stalks,” each made of a heterodimer of E and G subunits. Here, we present crystal structures of a yeast V-ATPase heterotrimeric complex composed of EG ...

 

The Structure of the Plk4 Cryptic Polo Box Reveals Two Tandem Polo Boxes Required for Centriole Duplication

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.025

Abstract

Centrioles are key microtubule polarity determinants. Centriole duplication is tightly controlled to prevent cells from developing multipolar spindles, a situation that promotes chromosomal instability. A conserved component in the duplication pathway is Plk4, a polo kinase family member that localizes to centrioles in M/G1. To limit centriole duplication, Plk4 levels are controlled through trans-autophosphorylation that primes ubiquitination. In contrast to Plks 1-3, Plk4 possesses a unique central region called the “cryptic polo box.” Here, we present the crystal structure of this ...

 

Proton-Coupled Dynamics in Lactose Permease

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.021

Abstract

Lactose permease of Escherichia coli (LacY) catalyzes symport of a galactopyranoside and an H+ via an alternating access mechanism. The transition from an inward- to an outward-facing conformation of LacY involves sugar-release followed by deprotonation. Because the transition depends intimately upon the dynamics of LacY in a bilayer environment, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations may be the only means of following the accompanying structural changes in atomic detail. Here, we describe MD simulations of wild-type apo LacY in phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) lipids that ...

 

The Crystal Structure of the Intact E. coli RelBE Toxin-Antitoxin Complex Provides the Structural Basis for Conditional Cooperativity

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.017

Abstract

The bacterial relBE locus encodes a toxin-antitoxin complex in which the toxin, RelE, is capable of cleaving mRNA in the ribosomal A site cotranslationally. The antitoxin, RelB, both binds and inhibits RelE, and regulates transcription through operator binding and conditional cooperativity controlled by RelE. Here, we present the crystal structure of the intact Escherichia coli RelB2E2 complex at 2.8 Å resolution, comprising both the RelB-inhibited RelE and the RelB dimerization domain that binds DNA. RelE and RelB associate into a V-shaped heterotetrameric ...

 

Allosteric Mechanism Controls Traffic in the Chaperone/Usher Pathway

  [CiTO]
Structure (September 2012), doi:10.1016/j.str.2012.08.016

Abstract

Many virulence organelles of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are assembled via the chaperone/usher pathway. The chaperone transports organelle subunits across the periplasm to the outer membrane usher, where they are released and incorporated into growing fibers. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of the usher-targeting step in assembly of the Yersinia pestis F1 capsule at the atomic level. The usher interacts almost exclusively with the chaperone in the chaperone:subunit complex. In free chaperone, a pair of conserved proline residues at the beginning of ...


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