N-terminal Charge Research Articles

Effect of signal peptide optimized by site-directed mutagenesis on the function of chimeric antigen receptor T cells

Signal peptides (SP) are involved in regulating the secretion level and transmembrane translocation of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), which is crucial for CAR-T cells. This study aimed to optimize the SP sequence by site-directed mutagenesis and investigate its impact on the killing function of CD19-CAR-T. Firstly, CAR vectors targeting CD19 containing wild-type SP (SP-wtY) or two mutant SP (SP-muK or SP-muR) were constructed using gene synthesis and molecular cloning techniques. The successfully constructed vector was packaged with lentivirus, and T cells were infected. The transfection efficiency of T cells was detected by flow cytometry, while the killing effect on target cells was assessed using the calcein release method. The secretion levels of cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interferon-α (TNF-α) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that successful construction of recombinant lentivirus plasmids with wild type and signal peptide mutation. After the transferring the lentivirus into T cells, the transfection efficiency of CD19-CAR carrying three signal peptides (SP-wtY, SP-muK, or SP-muR) were 33.9%, 35.5%, and 36.8%, respectively. Further killing assay showed that the tumor-killing effect of SP-muR cells was significantly higher than that of SP-muK and SP-wtY cells. When the ratio of effector to target was 10:1, the secretion levels of cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α of CAR-T cells of the SP-muR group were significantly higher than those in SP-muK and SP-wtY groups. In summary, this study revealed that increasing the N-terminal positive charge of the signal peptide can improve the expression efficiency of CAR and promote the killing of CD19+ target cells. These findings provide a scientific basis the optimization and clinical application of CAR structure.

Elucidation of binding mechanism, affinity, and complex structure between mWT1 tumor-associated antigen peptide and HLA-A*24:02.

We have applied our advanced computational and experimental methodologies to investigate the complex structure and binding mechanism of a modified Wilms' Tumor 1 (mWT1) protein epitope to the understudied Asian-dominant allele HLA-A*24:02 (HLA-A24) in aqueous solution. We have applied our developed multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking method to analyze the binding pathway and mechanism, which we verified by comparing the highest probability structures from simulation with our experimentally solved x-ray crystal structure. Subsequent path sampling MD simulations elucidated the atomic details of the binding process and indicated that first an encounter complex is formed between the N-terminal's positive charge of the 9-residue mWT1 fragment peptide and a cluster of negative residues on the surface of HLA-A24, with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule preferring a predominantly closed conformation. The peptide first binds to this closed MHC conformation, forming an encounter complex, after which the binding site opens due to increased entropy of the binding site, allowing the peptide to bind to form the native complex structure. Further sequence and structure analyses also suggest that although the peptide loading complex would help with stabilizing the MHC molecule, the binding depends in a large part on the intrinsic affinity between the MHC molecule and the antigen peptide. Finally, our computational tools and analyses can be of great benefit to study the binding mechanism of different MHC types to their antigens, where it could also be useful in the development of higher affinity variant peptides and for personalized medicine.

Effects of Conjugation of Ferrocene and Gallic Acid On desCys11/Lys12/Lys13-(p-BthTX-I)2K Peptide: Structure, Permeabilization and Antibacterial Activity.

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global health challenge that has led researchers to study alternatives to conventional antibiotics. A promising alternative is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), produced as the first line of defense by almost all living organisms. To improve its biological activity, the conjugation of AMPs is a promising approach. In this study, we evaluated the N-terminal conjugation of p-Bt (a peptide derived from Bothrops Jararacuçu`s venom) with ferrocene (Fc) and gallic acid (GA). Acetylated and linear versions of p-Bt were also synthesized to evaluate the importance of N-terminal charge and dimeric structure. The compounds were obtained using solid-phase peptide synthesis. Circular dichroism, vesicle permeabilization, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity studies were conducted. No increase in antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was observed by adding either Fc or GA to p-Bt. However, Fc-p-Bt and GA-p-Bt exhibited improved activity against Staphylococcus aureus. No cytotoxicity upon fibroblast was observed for GA-p-Bt. On the other hand, conjugation with Fc increased cytotoxicity. This toxicity may be related to the membrane permeabilization capacity of this bioconjugate, which showed the highest carboxyfluorescein leakage in vesicle permeabilization experiments. Considering these observations, our findings highlight the importance of adding bioactive organic compounds in the N-terminal position as a tool to modulate the activity of AMPs.

Histone variant H2B.Z acetylation is necessary for maintenance of Toxoplasma gondii biological fitness

Through regulation of DNA packaging, histone proteins are fundamental to a wide array of biological processes. A variety of post-translational modifications (PTMs), including acetylation, constitute a proposed histone code that is interpreted by “reader” proteins to modulate chromatin structure. Canonical histones can be replaced with variant versions that add an additional layer of regulatory complexity. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is unique among eukaryotes in possessing a novel variant of H2B designated H2B.Z. The combination of PTMs and the use of histone variants are important for gene regulation in T. gondii, offering new targets for drug development. In this work, T. gondii parasites were generated in which the 5 N-terminal acetylatable lysines in H2B.Z were mutated to either alanine (c-Myc-A) or arginine (c-Myc-R). The c-Myc-A mutant displayed no phenotype over than a mild defect in its ability to kill mice. The c-Myc-R mutant presented an impaired ability to grow and an increase in differentiation to latent bradyzoites. The c-Myc-R mutant was also more sensitive to DNA damage, displayed no virulence in mice, and provided protective immunity against future infection. While nucleosome composition was unaltered, key genes were abnormally expressed during in vitro bradyzoite differentiation. Our results show that regulation of the N-terminal positive charge patch of H2B.Z is important for these processes. We also show that acetylated N-terminal H2B.Z interacts with some unique proteins compared to its unacetylated counterpart; the acetylated peptide pulled down proteins associated with chromosome maintenance/segregation and cell cycle, suggesting a link between H2B.Z acetylation status and mitosis.

Drugging the Sarcomere, a Delicate Balance: Position of N-Terminal Charge of the Inhibitor W7.

W7 is a sarcomere inhibitor that decreases the calcium sensitivity of force development in cardiac muscle. W7 binds to the interface of the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (cNTnC) and the switch region of troponin I (cTnI), decreasing the binding of cTnI to cNTnC, presumably by electrostatic repulsion between the -NH3+ group of W7 and basic amino acids in cTnI. W7 analogs with a -CO2- tail are inactive. To evaluate the importance of the location of the charged -NH3+, we used a series of compounds W4, W6, W8, and W9, which have three less, one less, one more, and two more methylene groups in the tail region than W7. W6, W8, and W9 all bind tighter to cNTnC-cTnI chimera (cChimera) than W7, while W4 binds weaker. W4 and, strikingly, W6 have no effect on calcium sensitivity of force generation, while W8 and W9 decrease calcium sensitivity, but less than W7. The structures of the cChimera-W6 and cChimera-W8 complexes reveal that W6 and W8 bind to the same hydrophobic cleft as W7, with the aliphatic tail taking a similar route to the surface. NMR relaxation data show that internal flexibility in the tail of W7 is very limited. Alignment of the cChimera-W7 structure with the recent cryoEM structures of the cardiac sarcomere in the diastolic and systolic states reveals the critical location of the amino group. Small molecule induced structural changes can therefore affect the tightly balanced equilibrium between tethered components required for rapid contraction.

Antibodies directed to the phospho-tau peptide (residues 111-137) dissociate tau oligomers and reduce the spatial memory deficits in non-transgenic tauopathy model rats

In dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type, characterized by the deposits of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques with concomitant deterioration in spatial memory and other cognitive functions. Till date, although no cure is available for AD, a few treatment options offer help in reducing the symptoms. In the present study, the sequence 111-137 in the distal N-terminal charge transition region of tau, harbouring the pathologically relevant phospho-serine (pSer 113) and phospho-threonine (pThr 123) (111TPpSLEDEAAGHVpTQARMVSKSKD GTGS137)was selected as a potential immunotherapeutic peptide. Polyclonal anti-peptide antibodies raised in rabbits effectively dissociated the oligomers/aggregates of recombinant human tau in vitro. Administration of affinity purified anti-peptide antibodies to the okadaic acid induced tauopathy model rats resulted in a significant progress in spatial memory functions in Barnes maze task with concomitant reduction in p-tau levels in the hippocampal homogenates. Thus, targeting the phospho-residue sequence 111-137 in tau may be therapeutically relevant for AD and other related tauopathies. These antibodies may also have a clinical value in terms of immunosassay development for quantitation of pathology associated pSer113 and pThr 123 in AD samples.

Selection of an optimal macrocyclic chelator improves the imaging of prostate cancer using cobalt-labeled GRPR antagonist RM26

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) are promising targets in oligometastatic prostate cancer. We have recently used 55Co (T1/2 = 17.5 h) as a label for next day PET imaging of GRPR expression obtaining high imaging contrast. The radionuclide-chelator combination can significantly influence the biodistribution of radiopeptides. Therefore, in this study, we hypothesized that the properties of 55Co-labeled PEG2-RM26 can be improved by identifying the optimal macrocyclic chelator. All analogues (X-PEG2-RM26, X = NOTA,NODAGA,DOTA,DOTAGA) were successfully labeled with radiocobalt with high yields and demonstrated high stability. The radiopeptides bound specifically and with picomolar affinity to GRPR and their cellular processing was characterized by low internalization. The best binding capacity was found for DOTA-PEG2-RM26. Ex vivo biodistribution in PC-3 xenografted mice was characterized by rapid blood clearance via renal excretion. Tumor uptake was similar for all conjugates at 3 h pi, exceeding the uptake in all other organs. Higher kidney uptake and longer retention were associated with N-terminal negative charge (DOTAGA-containing conjugate). Tumor-to-organ ratios increased over time for all constructs, although significant chelator-dependent differences were observed. Concordant with affinity measurements, DOTA-analog had the best retention of activity in tumors, resulting in the highest tumor-to-blood ratio 24 h pi, which translated into high contrast PET/CT imaging (using 55Co).

The potency of the broad\xa0spectrum bacteriocin, bactofencin A, against staphylococci is highly dependent on primary structure, N-terminal charge and disulphide formation

Bactofencin A is a novel class IId bacteriocin, produced by the intestinal isolate Lactobacillus salivarius DPC6502, which has potent activity against medically significant pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteriocin is unusual in that it has a highly cationic N terminus and a single disulfide bond between Cys7 and Cys22, resulting in a large C terminal loop. In this study, a library of synthetic bactofencin A variants were screened against the mastitis isolate, S. aureus DPC5246, to identify key residues responsible for activity. It was apparent that substituting either cysteine of the disulfide bond with either serine or alanine significantly reduced the activity of the bacteriocin, confirming the importance of the C terminal loop. Substituting N terminal amino acids with alanine had no effect on activity, whereas sequential removal of the N terminal positively charged residues resulted in an increasingly inactive peptide. A complete (synthetic) alanine scanning analysis revealed that the residues between Val9 and Gly17 were most affected by substitution suggesting that this area has a major influence on the potency of the bacteriocin. Substituting residues in the loop region between Cys7 and Cys22 for D-amino acid equivalents had a more detrimental effect on activity than L-alanine substitutions. Specifically Y10A, N11A, P15A and T16A are active at 4, 16, 1 and 16 μM respectively while their D equivalents were inactive at 1000 μM, the highest concentration tested. Ultimately, this study identifies the critical features in the primary structure of the bacteriocin which gives it such potent activity against pathogenic staphylococci.

Charged N-terminus of Influenza Fusion Peptide Facilitates Membrane Fusion.

Cleavage of hemagglutinin precursor (HA0) by cellular proteases results in the formation of two subunits, HA1 and HA2. The N-terminal fragment of HA2, named a fusion peptide (HAfp), possess a charged, amine N-terminus. It has been shown that the N-terminus of HAfp stabilizes the structure of a helical hairpin observed for a 23-amino acid long peptide (HAfp1-23), whose larger activity than HAfp1-20 has been demonstrated recently. In this paper, we analyze the effect of N-terminal charge on peptide-mediated fusion efficiency and conformation changes at the membrane interface by comparison with the corresponding N-acetylated peptides of 20- and 23-amino acid lengths. We found that higher fusogenic activities of peptides with unmodified amino termini correlates with their ability to form helical hairpin structures oriented perpendicularly to the membrane plane. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that acetylated peptides adopt open and surface-bound conformation more often, which induced less disorder of the phospholipid chains, as compared to species with unmodified amino termini.

Pyrylium‐based dye and charge tagging in proteomics

The pyrylium group is a selective reagent for ε-amino groups in proteins. In particular, for fluorescence labeling, a number of advantages over traditional N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester chemistry were recognized such as the rapid prestaining procedure. Here, we have investigated the labeling reaction for the fluorogenic pyrylium dye Py-1 using liquid chromatography coupled to MS with the aim of determining its specificity and possible side products. Peptides containing no, one, and two lysine residue and a choice of no or one cysteine residue were labeled with Py-1 at yields > 30%. Gas phase fragmentation proved both labeling of lysine residues as well as that of the N-terminus also in peptides that contained a lysine residue. Evidence for cysteine labeling was not found, but several other products were detected such as the results of rearrangements with adjacent acidic amino acids. Apart from the use as a fluorogenic label, Py-1 recommends itself for N-terminal charge tagging as alternative to the commonly used quaternary ammonium salts. Predominantly a- and b-type ion series were observed for N-terminally labeled peptides. Further applications include chromophore tagging since the labeled product is not only fluorescent but also colored red.

A Soluble, Folded Protein without Charged Amino Acid Residues.

Charges are considered an integral part of protein structure and function, enhancing solubility and providing specificity in molecular interactions. We wished to investigate whether charged amino acids are indeed required for protein biogenesis and whether a protein completely free of titratable side chains can maintain solubility, stability, and function. As a model, we used a cellulose-binding domain from Cellulomonas fimi, which, among proteins of more than 100 amino acids, presently is the least charged in the Protein Data Bank, with a total of only four titratable residues. We find that the protein shows a surprising resilience toward extremes of pH, demonstrating stability and function (cellulose binding) in the pH range from 2 to 11. To ask whether the four charged residues present were required for these properties of this protein, we altered them to nontitratable ones. Remarkably, this chargeless protein is produced reasonably well in Escherichia coli, retains its stable three-dimensional structure, and is still capable of strong cellulose binding. To further deprive this protein of charges, we removed the N-terminal charge by acetylation and studied the protein at pH 2, where the C-terminus is effectively protonated. Under these conditions, the protein retains its function and proved to be both soluble and have a reversible folding-unfolding transition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a soluble, functional protein with no titratable side chains has been produced.

N-Terminal Derivatization with Structures Having High Proton Affinity for Discrimination between Leu and Ile Residues in Peptides by High-Energy Collision-Induced Dissociation.

De novo sequencing is still essential in the identification of peptides and proteins from unexplored organisms whose sequence information is not available. One of the remaining problems in de novo sequencing is discrimination between Leu and Ile residues. The discrimination is possible based on differences in side chain fragmentation between Leu and Ile under high-energy collision-induced dissociation (HE-CID) conditions. However, this is observed only when basic residues, such as Arg and Lys, are present near the N- or C-terminal end. It has been shown that the charge derivatization at the N-terminal end by a quarternary ammonium or phosphonium moiety facilitates the side chain fragmentation by HE-CID. However, the effective backbone fragmentation by low-energy CID (LE-CID) is often hampered in those derivatives with a fixed charge. Previously, we demonstrated that the N-terminal charge derivatization with the structures having high proton affinity induced the preferential formation of b-ions under LE-CID conditions, allowing straightforward interpretation of product ion spectra. In the present study, we further investigated whether the same derivatization approach is also effective for discrimination between Leu and Ile under HE-CID conditions. Consequently, the side chain fragmentation of Leu and Ile residues was most effectively enhanced by the N-terminal derivatization with 4-(guanidinomethyl)benzoic acid among the tested structures. This derivatization approach, which is compatible with both HE- and LE-CID analysis, offers a straightforward and unambiguous de novo peptide sequencing method.

Investigation of bn-44 peptide fragments using high resolution mass spectrometry and isotope labeling.

An N-terminal deuterohemin-containing hexapeptide (DhHP-6) was designed as a short peptide cytochrome c (Cyt c) mimetic to study the effect of N-terminal charge on peptide fragmentation pathways. This peptide gave different dissociation patterns than normal tryptic peptides. Upon collision-induced dissociation (CID) with an ion trap mass spectrometer, the singly charged peptide ion containing no added proton generated abundant and characteristic bn-44 ions instead of bn-28 (an) ions. Studies by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and isotope labeling indicate that elimination of 44 Da fragments from b ions occurs via two different pathways: (1) loss of CH3CHO (44.0262) from a Thr side chain; (2) loss of CO2 (43.9898) from the oxazolone structure in the C-terminus. A series of analogues were designed and analyzed. The experimental results combined with Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on the proton affinity of the deuteroporphyrin demonstrate that the production of these novel bn-44 ions is related to the N-terminal charge via a charge-remote rather than radical-directed fragmentation pathway.

Inefficient Translocation of Preproinsulin Contributes to Pancreatic β Cell Failure and Late-onset Diabetes

Among the defects in the early events of insulin biosynthesis, proinsulin misfolding and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress have drawn increasing attention as causes of β cell failure. However, no studies have yet addressed potential defects at the cytosolic entry point of preproinsulin into the secretory pathway. Here, we provide the first evidence that inefficient translocation of preproinsulin (caused by loss of a positive charge in the n region of its signal sequence) contributes to β cell failure and diabetes. Specifically, we find that, after targeting to the ER membrane, preproinsulin signal peptide (SP) mutants associated with autosomal dominant late-onset diabetes fail to be fully translocated across the ER membrane. The newly synthesized, untranslocated preproinsulin remains strongly associated with the ER membrane, exposing its proinsulin moiety to the cytosol. Rather than accumulating in the ER and inducing ER stress, untranslocated preproinsulin accumulates in a juxtanuclear compartment distinct from the Golgi complex, induces the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and promotes β cell death. Restoring an N-terminal positive charge to the mutant preproinsulin SP significantly improves the translocation defect. These findings not only reveal a novel molecular pathogenesis of β cell failure and diabetes but also provide the first evidence of the physiological and pathological significance of the SP n region positive charge of secretory proteins.

Positive Charge Loading at Protein Termini Is Due to Membrane Protein Topology, Not a Translational Ramp

In the great majority of genomes, the use of positive charge increases, on average, approaching protein N-termini. Such charged residues slow ribosomes by interacting with the negatively charged exit tunnel. This has been proposed to be selectively advantageous as it provides an elongation speed ramp at translational starts. Positive charges, however, are known to orientate proteins in membranes by the positive-inside rule whereby excess charge lies on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Which of these two models better explains the N-terminal loading of positively charged amino acids? We find strong evidence that the tendency for average positive charge use to increase at termini is exclusively due to membrane protein topology: 1) increasing N-terminal positive charge is not found in cytosolic proteins, but in transmembrane ones with cytosolic N-termini, with signal sequences contributing additional charge; 2) positive charge density at N-termini corresponds to the length of cytoplasmically exposed transmembrane tails, its usage increasing just up until the membrane; 3) membrane-related patterns are repeated at C-termini, where no ramp is expected; and 4) N-terminal positive charge patterns are no different from those seen internally in proteins in membrane-associated domains. The overall apparent increase in positive charge across all N-termini results from membrane proteins using positive charge adjacent to the cytosolic leaflet, combined with a skewed distribution of where N-termini cross the plasma membrane; 5) while Escherichia coli was predicted to have a 5' ribosomal occupancy ramp of at least 31 codons, in contrast to what is seen in yeast, we find in ribosomal footprinting data no evidence for such a ramp. In sum, we find no need to invoke a translational ramp to explain the rising positive charge densities at N-termini. The membrane orientation model makes a full account of the trend.

Differential (14)N/(15)N-Labeling of Peptides Using N-Terminal Charge Derivatization with a High-Proton Affinity for Straightforward de novo Peptide Sequencing.

While de novo peptide sequencing is essential in many situations, it remains a difficult task. This is because peptide fragmentation results in complicated and often incomplete product ion spectra. In a previous study, we demonstrated that N-terminal charge derivatization with 4-amidinobenzoic acid (Aba) resulted in improved peptide fragmentation under low-energy CID conditions. However, even with this derivatization, some ambiguity exists, due to difficulties in discriminating between N- and C-terminal fragments. In this study, to specifically identify b-ions from complex product ion spectra, the differential (14)N/(15)N-labeling of peptides was performed using Aba derivatization. (15)N-Labeled Aba was synthesized in the form of a succinimide ester. Peptides were derivatized individually with (14)N-Aba or (15)N-Aba and analyzed by ESI-MS/MS using a linear ion trap-Orbitrap hybrid FTMS system. The N-terminal fragments (i.e., b-ions) were then identified based on m/z differences arising from isotope labeling. By comparing the spectra between (14)N- and (15)N-Aba derivatized peptides, b-ions could be successfully identified based on the m/z shifts, which provided reliable sequencing results for all of the peptides examined in this study. The method developed in this study allows the easy and reliable de novo sequencing of peptides, which is useful in peptidomics and proteomics studies.

Functional Adaptation between Yeast Actin and Its Cognate Myosin Motors

We employed budding yeast and skeletal muscle actin to examine the contribution of the actin isoform to myosin motor function. While yeast and muscle actin are highly homologous, they exhibit different charge density at their N termini (a proposed myosin-binding interface). Muscle myosin-II actin-activated ATPase activity is significantly higher with muscle versus yeast actin. Whether this reflects inefficiency in the ability of yeast actin to activate myosin is not known. Here we optimized the isolation of two yeast myosins to assess actin function in a homogenous system. Yeast myosin-II (Myo1p) and myosin-V (Myo2p) accommodate the reduced N-terminal charge density of yeast actin, showing greater activity with yeast over muscle actin. Increasing the number of negative charges at the N terminus of yeast actin from two to four (as in muscle) had little effect on yeast myosin activity, while other substitutions of charged residues at the myosin interface of yeast actin reduced activity. Thus, yeast actin functions most effectively with its native myosins, which in part relies on associations mediated by its outer domain. Compared with yeast myosin-II and myosin-V, muscle myosin-II activity was very sensitive to salt. Collectively, our findings suggest differing degrees of reliance on electrostatic interactions during weak actomyosin binding in yeast versus muscle. Our study also highlights the importance of native actin isoforms when considering the function of myosins.

Bifurcating Fragmentation Behavior of Gas-Phase Tryptic Peptide Dications in Collisional Activation

Collision-activated dissociation (CAD) of tryptic peptides is a cornerstone of mass spectrometry-based proteomics research. Principal component analysis of a database containing 15,000 high-resolution CAD mass spectra of gas-phase tryptic peptide dications revealed that they fall into two classes with a good separation between the classes. The main factor determining the class identity is the relative abundance of the peptide bond cleavage after the first two N-terminal residues. A possible scenario explaining this bifurcation involves trans- to cis-isomerization of the N-terminal peptide bond, which facilitates solvation of the N-terminal charge on the second backbone amide and formation of stable b(2) ions in the form of protonated diketopiperazines. Evidence supporting this scenario is derived from statistical analysis of the high-resolution CAD MS/MS database. It includes the observation of the strong deficit of a(3) ions and anomalous amino acid preferences for b(2) ion formation.

Cataracts Are Caused by Alterations of a Critical N-Terminal Positive Charge in Connexin50

To elucidate the basis of the autosomal dominant congenital nuclear cataracts caused by the connexin50 mutant, CX50R23T, by determining its cellular distribution and functional behavior and the consequences of substituting other amino acids for arginine-23. Connexin50 (CX50) mutants were generated by PCR and transfected into HeLa or N2a cells. Expressed CX50 protein was detected by immunoblot analysis and localized by immunofluorescence. Intercellular communication was assessed by microinjection of neurobiotin or by double whole-cell patch-clamp recording. HeLa cells stably transfected with CX50R23T or wild-type CX50 produced immunoreactive CX50 bands of identical electrophoretic mobility. Whereas HeLa cells stably expressing CX50 contained abundant gap junction plaques, CX50R23T localized predominantly in the cytoplasm. HeLa cells expressing wild-type CX50 showed large gap junctional conductances and extensive transfer of neurobiotin, but those expressing CX50R23T did not show significant intercellular communication by either assay. Moreover, CX50R23T inhibited the function of coexpressed wild-type CX50. Three CX50R23 substitution mutants (CX50R23K, CX50R23L, and CX50R23W) formed gap junction plaques, whereas two mutant substitutions with negatively charged residues (CX50R23D, CX50R23E) did not form detectable plaques. Only the mutant with a positive charge substitution (CX50R23K) allowed neurobiotin transfer at levels similar to those of wild-type CX50; none of the other mutants induced transfer. These results suggest that replacement of amino acid 23 in CX50 by any residue that is not positively charged would lead to cataract formation.

Mutations in the Sec61p Channel Affecting Signal Sequence Recognition and Membrane Protein Topology

The orientation of most single-spanning membrane proteins obeys the "positive-inside rule", i.e. the flanking region of the transmembrane segment that is more positively charged remains in the cytosol. These membrane proteins are integrated by the Sec61/SecY translocon, but how their orientation is achieved is unknown. We have screened for mutations in yeast Sec61p that alter the orientation of single-spanning membrane proteins. We identified a class of mutants that are less efficient in retaining the positively charged flanking region in the cytosol. Surprisingly, these mutations are located at many different sites in the Sec61/SecY molecule, and they do not only involve charged amino acid residues. All these mutants have a prl phenotype that so far have only been seen in bacteria; they allow proteins with defective signal sequences to be translocated, likely because the Sec61p channel opens more easily. A similar correlation between topology defects and prl phenotype was also seen with previously identified yeast Sec61 mutants. Our results suggest a model in which the regulated opening of the translocon is required for the faithful orientation of membrane proteins.