Single Free Thiol Research Articles

Mutagenic structure/function analysis of the cytoplasmic cysteines of the insulin receptor

Native human insulin receptor (hIR) has been reported to contain only one free thiol group proposed to lie near the ATP-binding. domain of its beta-subunit [Finn, Ridge and Hofmann (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 419-423]. The present study investigated the role of the six cytoplasmic cysteines of the beta-subunit of the hIR using a mutagenic approach in which insulin receptors, mutated at each cytoplasmic cysteine (to alanine) in turn, were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Cell lines expressing hIR mutation at high level were obtained which, by both flow-cytometric analysis towards an hIR-specific monoclonal antibody (83-7) and insulin-binding analysis, were similar to the well-characterized CHOT cell line which overexpresses native hIR. The ED50 and Kd values of the mutant receptors were the same as those of the wild-type hIR. Each of the mutant receptors signalled insulin action to stimulate receptor autophosphorylation and kinase activity as well as glucose utilization to levels appropriate for the receptor level expressed. In contrast, insulin-stimulated thymidine uptake and glucose-transport responses of two of the six mutant cell lines, those expressing Cys981Ala and Cys1245Ala, were impaired compared with that of the native hIR-expressing cell line, CHOT. The beta-subunits of each of the hIR cytoplasmic cysteine mutant cell lines could be alkylated specifically with N-[3H]ethylmaleimide. The kinase activity of each receptor was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and stimulated by iodoacetamide, indicating that none of the cytoplasmic cysteines alone contributes the single free thiol group to the hIR structure. We conclude that the cytoplasmic cysteines of the hIR have a predominantly passive role in hIR activity although Cys-981 and Cys-1245 do affect mitogenic and glucose-transport responses of the receptor. Our findings indicate that the stoicheiometry of a single free thiol group/mol of insulin-binding activity noted in previous studies is either spread fractionally over a number of the cytoplasmic cysteines or is one of the four cysteines in the ectodomain of the hIR beta-subunit. Alternatively, the mutagenesis performed in the present study may enable differential exposure of a second titratable cysteine in wild-type and mutant receptors.

A “molten globule” of Torpedo acetylcholinesterase undergoes thiol-disulfide exchange.

Torpedo acetylcholinesterase is a disulfide-linked homodimer containing three intramolecular disulfide bonds, as well as a single free thiol on Cys-231. We report that in a "molten globule" state, produced by 1.5 M guanidine hydrochloride, this enzyme undergoes rapid intramolecular thiol-disulfide exchange, in the absence of reducing agents, resulting in the production of novel species. Most strikingly, this results in appearance of enzyme monomers. Chemical modification of the free thiol group prevents these changes. Unfolded acetylcholinesterase, namely in 5 M guanidine hydrochloride, also undergoes intramolecular thiol-disulfide exchange, including production of enzyme monomers, but at a much lower rate. Our data show that the molten globule state, in contrast to the native and unfolded states, is both compact and flexible, thus being especially amenable to thiol-disulfide exchange.

Use of nonradiative decays of extrinsic fluorophores as structural and dynamical probes in protein environments: Fluorescence quenching

In this work a combined pulsed-laser, time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry (PAC) and fluorescence study is presented on two widely used covalent protein probes, fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC) and 6-acryloyl-2-dimethylaminonaphtalene (acrylodan). Three proteins that contain a single free thiol, namely carbonic anhydrase, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and papain, have been selectively labelled with FITC and acrylodan, and their fluorescence emission was quenched with KI. Nonradiative decays of the excited states of FITC are used to complement the information usually obtained by monitoring the quenching of fluorescence emssion. Data analysis evidences the dependence of the nonradiative quenching constants on the exposure of the dye to the solvent, and shows the involvement of a triplet state of FITC in the non radiative deexcitation. The shielding of the binding sites from the solvent is demonstrated also by the fluorescence emission of acrylodan and by the Stern-Volmer analysis of fluorescence quenching by KI. From photoacoustic data, an estimate of the fluorescent quantum yield of bound FITC is obtained. This work demonstrates the complete equivalence of quenching data obtained by fluorescence and photoacoustics measurements and shows that this combined approach allows a better control of the photophysics of the dyes involved in the quenching process.

Chemical modification of Torpedo acetylcholinesterase by disulfides: appearance of a "molten globule" state.

Modification of Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase (AChE) both by bis(1-oxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-imidazolin-4-yl)disulfide (biradical) and by 4,4'-dithiopyridine, via a thiol-disulfide exchange reaction, was monitored by EPR and optical spectroscopy, respectively. Incubation with these reagents caused complete loss of enzymic activity. Treatment with glutathione of AChE modified by either of the two disulfides led to rapid release of the bound reagent with simultaneous regeneration of the single free thiol group of the enzyme. However, no concomitant recovery of catalytic activity was observed. SDS-PAGE showed that both the modified and demodified enzymes retained their structure as a disulfide-linked dimer. Circular dichroism revealed that modification of AChE by the disulfide agents with or without demodification by glutathione led to a complete disappearance of the ellipticity in the near-UV and to a much smaller decrease in ellipticity in the far-UV. The CD spectra observed are typical of the "molten globule" state of proteins. 1-Anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate binding measurements and an enhanced susceptibility to trypsinolysis supported the supposition that chemical modification had transformed native AChE to a "molten globule".

Identification of free and [Fe2S2]-bound cysteine residues of adrenodoxin.

Bovine adrenodoxin was labeled with 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein to determine which of the five cysteines is free and which participate in iron coordination. Native protein was labeled at two stoichiometries, 0.15:1 and 1:1, both of which produced a single fluorescent product. Labeled tryptic peptides were isolated from both preparations and identified as residues 90-98 with 5-acetamidofluorescein cysteine at residue 95. From the preparation labeled at 0.15:1 stoichiometry, the fraction of tryptic peptide containing nonlabeled cysteines 92 and 95 was isolated and identified; this peptide was shown to be absent in the sample labeled at 1:1 stoichiometry. 5-Acetamidofluorescein-labeled adrenodoxin supported electron transport with adrenodoxin reductase and cytochromes P-450sec and P-45011 beta, demonstrating that labeling occurred without disruption of the iron-sulfur center. These results identify cysteine 95 as the most reactive and single free thiol in native adrenodoxin and imply the role of cysteine residues 46 [corrected], 52, 55, and 92 in iron-sulfur coordination.

The effects of iodine and thiol-blocking reagents on complement component C2 and on the assembly of the classical-pathway C3 convertase.

I2 can react with complement component C2 in a two-stage process. In the first stage, a form of C2 with enhanced haemolytic activity is produced. This form of C2 is cleaved to C2a and C2b by C1s at the same rate as native C2. The enhanced C2 haemolytic activity correlates with the ability to form a stable fluid-phase C3 convertase on addition of the C2 to C4b and C1s. It reflects an increased affinity for C4b of C2a formed from I2-treated C2, although the affinity for C4b of I2-treated C2 itself is not markedly increased. The specific activity of C3 convertase formed from I2-treated C2 is the same as that formed from native C2. The second stage of the reaction with I2, which is favoured at high pH or in the presence of excess I2, inactivates C2 on production of a species that cannot be cleaved by C1s. The presence of a single free thiol group in C2, which is the site of modification by I2, was confirmed by titration with p-chloromercuribenzoate, iodoacetamide and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). A single thiol group is also present in Factor B, and the cysteine residue, like that in C2, requires denaturation of the protein before reaction with iodoacetamide and 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) but not p-chloro- mercuribenzoate .

The role of the thiol group and the disulfide bond in the conformation and the IgE and IgG binding activities of ragweed allergen Ra3

A single free thiol group was alkylated by reacting allergen Ra3 with iodoacetamide or iodoacetic acid. Reduction with mercaptoethanol followed by carboxymethylation resulted in the reduction and alkylation of a single disulfide bond, in addition to the alkylation of the free thiol group. CD § measurements on Ra3 and its derivatives indicated that carboxyalkylation of the single free SH group by either iodoacetamide or iodoacetic acid caused slight conformational changes in Ra3. On the other hand, the conformational changes resulting from cleavage of the disulfide bond were quite large and the CD spectra reflected transition to a state of largely unordered structure. The immunochemical reactivities of the derivatives with anti-Ra3 human IgE and IgG antibodies as well as rabbit IgG antibodies were determined by direct binding of the respective antibodies to the adsorbents of the derivatives and/or by inhibition of the binding between the antibodies and native Ra3 adsorbents by the various derivatives in solution. Modification of the single thiol group caused only a very slight decrease (about 5%) of the reactivities with anti-Ra3 human IgE antibodies or with IgG antibodies of human or rabbit origin. Reduction followed by carboxyalkylation of all three thiol groups decreased the reactivity with IgE or IgG antibodies by about 50%. The behavior of a given derivative with the three antibodies was virtually the same. It was concluded that the free thiol group is not an essential part of an allergenic (IgE binding) or antigenic (IgG binding) site in Ra3. On the other hand, the intactness of the disulfide bond is essential for maintaining the integrity of the native conformation of Ra3 and the binding capacity of about half its allergenic and antigenic sites.