Recognition sequence 2 (residues 60-71) plays a role in oligomerization and exchange dynamics of alphaB-crystallin

Biochemistry. 2005 Sep 13;44(36):12245-52. doi: 10.1021/bi051005h.

Abstract

Previously, using the peptide scan method, we have determined that residues 42-57 and 60-71 in alphaB-crystallin (TSLSPFYLRPPSFLRA, named recognition sequence 1 or RS-1, and WFDTGLSEMRLE, named recognition sequence 2 or RS-2) are involved in interaction with alphaA-crystallin. To understand the significance of the RS-2 region in interactions between alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins, W60R, F61N, and S66G mutants of alphaB-crystallin were made and tested for their ability to interact with alphaA-crystallin. W60R and S66G mutations increased the oligomeric size of alphaB-crystallin by 1.6- and 2.7-fold respectively, whereas the F61N mutation had no effect. The tryptophan fluorescence intensity of alphaBS66G was 1.5-fold higher than that for the wild type. The intrinsic fluorescence of alphaBF61N was marginally lower than that of alphaB, whereas the fluorescence intensity of alphaBW60R decreased by 40% compared with that of alphaB. The relative availability of hydrophobic sites in the mutants was in the following order: alphaBS66G >> alphaB = alphaBF61N = alphaBW60R. The far-UV CD profiles for the wild type and alphaB-crystallin mutants indicated no significant changes in their secondary structures, except for alphaBS66G, which showed an increase in alpha-helical content. The near-UV CD profiles of alphaBW60R and alphaBF61N were nearly similar to that of wild type alphaB. On the other hand, alphaBS66G beyond 270 nm exhibited a signature completely different from that of wild type alphaB. Mutations did not alter the chaperone-like activity of these proteins. The W60R mutation did not affect the rate of subunit exchange between alphaB- and alphaA-crystallins. On the other hand, the S66G mutation increased the subunit exchange rate by 100%, whereas the F61N mutation decreased the rate of subunit exchange between alphaB- and alphaA-crystallins by 36%. Our results establish the importance of residues 60-71 in oligomerization of alphaB-crystallin and subunit interaction between alphaB- and alphaA-crystallins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Circular Dichroism
  • Humans
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Tryptophan / chemistry
  • Tryptophan / metabolism
  • alpha-Crystallin B Chain / chemistry*
  • alpha-Crystallin B Chain / genetics
  • alpha-Crystallin B Chain / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Subunits
  • alpha-Crystallin B Chain
  • Tryptophan