We will characterize the structure and dynamics of two intrinsic membrane proteins in their native bilayer environments, under conditions consistent with their functions: KcsA, the prototypical K+ channel of S. lividans, and the c subunit of ATP synthase from E. coli. Solid State NMR will provide atomic level details on structure and dynamics, without any requirement for crystals or mono-dispersed solutions. KcsA is a homology model for medically relevant K+ channels of mammals, and is the best characterized system for clarifying the highly efficient and selective ion transmission, and the principles underlying channel gating. Structural work by X-ray crystallography on the closed state of the channel stands among the best accomplishments of membrane protein structural biology, and yet is limited because a truncated protein was studied under nonfunctional conditions, providing little or no information on dynamical flexibility. The bilayer environment and the composition of lipids are known to be crucial for structure, function, and dynamics of intrinsic membrane proteins, including the function and folding of KcsA. We propose to study the full length, active form of the protein in a bilayer environment, contrasting it to the protein in the crystal, using a number of recently developed approaches to stabilize the open state in the bilayer. We will clarify structural differences between the high and low pH states, the open and closed states, and between the high and low K+ states, and the dynamic interconversion between these states in the bilayer, and their interactions with lipids. In ATP synthase, the c subunit plays the central role in proton transfer across the bilayer, and it is believed that conformation changes in this subunit drive the conformation changes of F1, enabling ATP synthesis. Protonation of residue D61 is believed to drive overall rotation of the oligomer, as well as a conformation change in the c subunit, involving an interhelix loop that interacts directly with F1. Solution NMR studies have shown that the c subunit monomer in organic solvents is a helical hairpin whose interhelical loop structure is a function of pH. To date, there is no high-resolution study of the c subunit assembly in the bilayer nor in FO. We will assign spectra of this oligomeric assembly (c10 and FO) above and below the pKa of the crucial pump residue, D61. We will study quaternary contacts between subunit c and neighboring subunits. For both systems, we will apply recently developed NMR methods for determining structure, including selective recoupling techniques for determining distances, dipolar tensor-based vector angle correlation methods for constraining torsion angles, and chemical shift analysis. Preliminary data include partial sequence-specific assignments for both systems in bilayers, and evidence for NMR for pH-dependent conformations.

Public Health Relevance

Membrane proteins are foremost among crucially important medical targets, and yet the structures and mechanisms of most remain poorly characterized by traditional methods. We plan to apply a solid state NMR to elucidate two important cases: (1) KcsA, a prototypical K+ channel, and an important homology model for the medically relevant K+ channels of mammals, and (2) ATP synthase subunit c, a proton pump that drives a rotary mechanism for the synthesis of ATP and has been pursued as an organism specific target for inhibition in connection with tuberculosis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM088724-02
Application #
7941916
Study Section
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section (BBM)
Program Officer
Chin, Jean
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$285,001
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Chemistry
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
049179401
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10027
Xu, Yunyao; Bhate, Manasi P; McDermott, Ann E (2017) Transmembrane allosteric energetics characterization for strong coupling between proton and potassium ion binding in the KcsA channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:8788-8793
Sergeyev, Ivan V; Itin, Boris; Rogawski, Rivkah et al. (2017) Efficient assignment and NMR analysis of an intact virus using sequential side-chain correlations and DNP sensitization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:5171-5176
Wylie, Benjamin J; Dzikovski, Boris G; Pawsey, Shane et al. (2015) Dynamic nuclear polarization of membrane proteins: covalently bound spin-labels at protein-protein interfaces. J Biomol NMR 61:361-7
Laage, Ségolène; Tao, Yisong; McDermott, Ann E (2015) Cardiolipin interaction with subunit c of ATP synthase: solid-state NMR characterization. Biochim Biophys Acta 1848:260-5
Mompeán, Miguel; Hervás, Rubén; Xu, Yunyao et al. (2015) Structural Evidence of Amyloid Fibril Formation in the Putative Aggregation Domain of TDP-43. J Phys Chem Lett 6:2608-15
Wylie, Benjamin J; Bhate, Manasi P; McDermott, Ann E (2014) Transmembrane allosteric coupling of the gates in a potassium channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:185-90
Bhate, Manasi P; Wylie, Benjamin J; Thompson, Ameer et al. (2013) Preparation of uniformly isotope labeled KcsA for solid state NMR: expression, purification, reconstitution into liposomes and functional assay. Protein Expr Purif 91:119-24
Quinn, Caitlin M; McDermott, Ann E (2012) Quantifying conformational dynamics using solid-state Rýýýýý experiments. J Magn Reson 222:1-7
Bhate, Manasi P; McDermott, Ann E (2012) Protonation state of E71 in KcsA and its role for channel collapse and inactivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:15265-70
Siemer, Ansgar B; Huang, Kuo-Ying; McDermott, Ann E (2012) Protein linewidth and solvent dynamics in frozen solution NMR. PLoS One 7:e47242

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