Hsp90 is the most abundant molecular chaperone in the eukaryotic cell. One of the most stringent clients is the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), whose in vivo function strictly depends on the interaction with the Hsp90 machinery. However, the molecular mechanism of this interaction has been elusive. Here we have reconstituted the interaction of Hsp90 with hormone-bound GR using purified components. Our biochemical and structural analyses define the binding site for GR on Hsp90 and reveal that binding of GR modulates the conformational cycle of Hsp90. FRET experiments demonstrate that a partially closed form of the Hsp90 dimer is the preferred conformation for interaction. Consistent with this, the conformational cycle of Hsp90 is decelerated, and its ATPase activity decreases. Hsp90 cochaperones differentially affect formation of the Hsp90-GR complex, serving as control elements for cycle progression and revealing an intricate interplay of client and cochaperones as molecular modulators of the Hsp90 machine.

Aim: Biotin in human serum is a potential interfering factor for streptavidin-biotin-based assays. We aimed to evaluate the effective half-life of biotin and biotin metabolites, and establish a pharmacokinetic (PK) model to simulate the time taken for the biotin concentration to fall below a series of thresholds. Materials & methods: PK properties of biotin (5, 10 and 20 mg daily) were evaluated in healthy participants. Biotin serum concentrations were simulated for high-dose regimens (1 mg daily to 300 mg q.i.d.) using a population PK model. Results: Washout periods required for biotin concentrations to reach thresholds ranging from 10 to 100 ng/ml were successfully simulated. Conclusion: Our simulations provide valuable guidance on biotin washout periods necessary to avoid false assay results. Immunoassays that allow rapid measurement of analytes can be vital for the correct diagnosis of a broad range of diseases [1]. The interaction of streptavidin and biotin has been utilized for the development of robust and highly sensitive immunoassays by many manufacturers (Abbott, Beckman Coulter, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and others). Biotin, a water-soluble vitamin, is a small and stable molecule that can be conjugated to many proteins without significantly affecting their biological activity; this interaction is the strongest known noncovalent binding between a protein and a ligand [2].Exogenous biotin has the potential to interfere with streptavidin-biotin-based assay results. The impact of interference on test results can be the generation of falsely high values, obtained when using a competitive assay design, whereby an excess of biotin in the specimen competes with biotinylated analog for binding sites on streptavidin. Alternatively, when using a sandwich assay design, an excess of biotin in the specimen can displace biotinylated antibodies, which can generate falsely low values [3]. Reports of biotin interference leading to incorrect biochemical diagnoses in both adults and children have been published previously, along with warnings to clinicians and pathologists to interpret unexpected assay results with caution and consider the potential effect of biotin interference before making a diagnosis [4][5][6][7].The normal serum concentration of biotin is very low; published average values range from below 0.1 to 0.8 ng/ml [8,9]. The adequate daily intake of biotin is 30 μg/day [10] and biotin deficiency is rare as the majority of diets contain enough biotin for this to be reached. However, biotin is increasingly being marketed as a lifestyle supplement which is claimed to strengthen hair and nails, despite no scientific confirmation of these benefits [11]. The unregulated, over-the-counter (OTC) product is available in doses ranging from 50 μg found in multivitamin

Protein phosphatase 5 is involved in the regulation of kinases and transcription factors. The dephosphorylation activity is modulated by the molecular chaperone Hsp90, which binds to the TPR-domain of protein phosphatase 5. This interaction is dependent on the C-terminal MEEVD motif of Hsp90. We show that C-terminal Hsp90 fragments differ in their regulation of the phosphatase activity hinting to a more complex interaction. Also hydrodynamic parameters from analytical ultracentrifugation and small-angle X-ray scattering data suggest a compact structure for the Hsp90-protein phosphatase 5 complexes. Using crosslinking experiments coupled with mass spectrometric analysis and structural modelling we identify sites, which link the middle/C-terminal domain interface of C. elegans Hsp90 to the phosphatase domain of the corresponding kinase. Studying the relevance of the domains of Hsp90 for turnover of native substrates we find that ternary complexes with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) are cooperatively formed by full-length Hsp90 and PPH-5. Our data suggest that the direct stimulation of the phosphatase activity by C-terminal Hsp90 fragments leads to increased dephosphorylation rates. These are further modulated by the binding of clients to the N-terminal and middle domain of Hsp90 and their presentation to the phosphatase within the phosphatase-Hsp90 complex.