We propose to determine the structural and molecular basis of membrane curvature recognition using SpoVM, a highly conserved 26-residue peptide found in Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), as a model. During forespore formation, SpoVM exclusively binds to the convex surface of the forespore and initiates the assembly of a protein coat. In 2009, Ramamurthi et al. discovered that SpoVM uses the membrane geometry as an ultimate cue for its final subcellular localization. However, it is unclear how the nanometer sized SpoVM (~40 for a presumed ?-helix) is able to recognize the slightly curved surface of the micrometer-sized forespore. Contrary to the current belief that SpoVM assumes a long straight amphipathic ?-helix and shallowly associates at the membrane surface, we found that SpoVM adopts a loop-helix structure that is deeply embedded in the membrane. This proposal seeks to extend the study to model systems that are similar in curvature and lipid composition to the membrane of the B. subtilis forespore in order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of SpoVM membrane curvature recognition. We hypothesize that deep hydrophobic insertion is key for SpoVM to detect small membrane curvature. While pursuing these goals, we will exploit geometrically well-defined spherical supported lipid bilayers as a new model for the curved membrane and develop an in situ NMR approach for determining membrane protein structures. The shape of cellular membranes is a well-conserved evolutionary phenotype. Membrane shape is generated and maintained by the interplay of protein-lipid and lipid-lipid interactions. The detection and remodeling of membrane shapes are part of many essential cellular processes such as endocytosis, vesiculation and protein trafficking. Understanding the molecular mechanism for the generation, maintenance, and regulation of membrane geometry is a fundamental question in biology and will open up new therapeutic opportunities.

Public Health Relevance

The molecule we are studying recognizes the shape of a biological membrane. Many essential cellular processes and the entry of bacteria and viruses into human cells require altering membrane shapes. Therefore, understanding the molecular basis for the generation, recognition, maintenance and regulation of membrane geometry will provide new therapeutically opportunities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM105963-04
Application #
9184573
Study Section
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section (BBM)
Program Officer
Ainsztein, Alexandra M
Project Start
2014-02-01
Project End
2018-11-30
Budget Start
2016-12-01
Budget End
2017-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
129348186
City
Hershey
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
17033
Tyndall, Erin R; Tian, Fang (2018) Spherical Nanoparticle Supported Lipid Bilayers: A Tool for Modeling Protein Interactions with Curved Membranes. Methods Mol Biol 1688:99-109
Kim, Edward Y; Tyndall, Erin R; Huang, Kerwyn Casey et al. (2017) Dash-and-Recruit Mechanism Drives Membrane Curvature Recognition by the Small Bacterial Protein SpoVM. Cell Syst 5:518-526.e3
Fu, Riqiang; Gill Jr, Richard L; Kim, Edward Y et al. (2015) Spherical nanoparticle supported lipid bilayers for the structural study of membrane geometry-sensitive molecules. J Am Chem Soc 137:14031-14034
Gill Jr, Richard L; Wang, Xingsheng; Tian, Fang (2015) A membrane proximal helix in the cytosolic domain of the human APP interacting protein LR11/SorLA deforms liposomes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1848:323-8
Gill Jr, Richard L; Castaing, Jean-Philippe; Hsin, Jen et al. (2015) Structural basis for the geometry-driven localization of a small protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:E1908-15
Wu, I-Lin; Narayan, Kedar; Castaing, Jean-Philippe et al. (2015) A versatile nano display platform from bacterial spore coat proteins. Nat Commun 6:6777