The 17-residue N-terminus (httNT) directly flanking the polyQ sequence in huntingtin (htt) N-terminal fragments plays a crucial role in initiating and accelerating the aggregation process that is associated with Huntington’s disease (HD) pathogenesis. Here we report on magic-angle-spinning solid state NMR studies of the amyloid-like aggregates of an htt N-terminal fragment. We find that the polyQ portion of this peptide exists in a rigid, dehydrated amyloid core that is structurally similar to simpler polyQ fibrils and may contain anti-parallel β-sheets. In contrast, the httNT sequence in the aggregates is composed in part of a well-defined helix, which likely also exists in early oligomeric aggregates. Further NMR experiments demonstrate that the N-terminal helical segment displays increased dynamics and water exposure. Given its specific contribution to the initiation, rate and mechanism of fibril formation, the helical nature of httNT and its apparent lack of effect on the polyQ fibril core structure seem surprising. The results provide new details about these disease-associated aggregates, and also provide a clear example of an amino acid sequence that greatly enhances the rate of amyloid formation while itself not taking part in amyloid structure. There is an interesting mechanistic analogy to recent reports pointing out the early stage contributions of transient intermolecular helix-helix interactions in the aggregation behavior of various other amyloid fibrils.
Members of the caveolin protein family are implicated in the formation of caveolae, play important roles in a number of signaling pathways and in the regulation of various proteins. We employ complementary spectroscopic methods to study the structure of the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD) in caveolin-1 fragments, while bound to cholesterol-rich membranes. This key domain is thought to be involved in multiple critical functions that include protein recognition, oligomerization, and cholesterol binding. In our membrane-bound peptides, residues within the flanking intramembrane domain (IMD) are found to adopt an α-helical structure, consistent with its commonly believed helical hairpin conformation. Intriguingly, in these same peptides, we observe a β-stranded conformation for residues in the CSD, contrasting with earlier reports, which commonly do not reflect β-structure. Our experimental data based on solid-state NMR, CD, and FTIR are found to be consistent with computational analyses of the secondary structure preference of the primary sequence. We discuss how our structural data of membrane binding Cav fragments may match certain general features of cholesterol-binding domains and could be consistent with the role for CSD in protein recognition and homo-oligomerization.
The formation of amyloid-like fibrils is characteristic of various diseases, but the underlying mechanism and the factors that determine whether, when, and how proteins form amyloid, remain uncertain. Certain mechanisms have been proposed based on the three-dimensional or runaway domain swapping, inspired by the fact that some proteins show an apparent correlation between the ability to form domain-swapped dimers and a tendency to form fibrillar aggregates. Intramolecular -sheet contacts present in the monomeric state could constitute intermolecular -sheets in the dimeric and fibrillar states. One example is an amyloid-forming mutant of the immunoglobulin binding domain B1 of streptococcal protein G, which in its native conformation consists of a four-stranded -sheet and one ␣-helix. Under native conditions this mutant adopts a domainswapped dimer, and it also forms amyloid-like fibrils, seemingly in correlation to its domain-swapping ability. We employ magic angle spinning solid-state NMR and other methods to examine key structural features of these fibrils. Our results reveal a highly rigid fibril structure that lacks mobile domains and indicate a parallel in-register -sheet structure and a general loss of native conformation within the mature fibrils. This observation contrasts with predictions that native structure, and in particular intermolecular -strand interactions seen in the dimeric state, may be preserved in "domain-swapping" fibrils. We discuss these observations in light of recent work on related amyloidforming proteins that have been argued to follow similar mechanisms and how this may have implications for the role of domain-swapping propensities for amyloid formation.Amyloid fibril formation is characteristic of a variety of human disorders, including Huntington and Alzheimer diseases (1, 2). In amyloid-related diseases, one or more proteins are found in fibrillar aggregates, in a non-native, highly -sheetrich conformation. Depending on the disease context, the propensity for amyloid formation may be traced to mutations and cleavage events, combined with poorly understood external triggers. Many proteins can also be made to form amyloid fibrils in vitro. Intriguingly, there are many accounts of proteins that form amyloid-like fibrils that are not associated with pathologies (2). Whether disease-related or not, amyloid fibrils share key biochemical and biophysical characteristics, suggesting common structural features. Understanding the fibril formation pathway is of interest not only as there may be a correlation between disease onset and protein aggregation, but also because transient oligomeric precursors may act as toxic species. However, a lack of high resolution structures of most fibrils and their precursors limits our knowledge of the mechanism of formation.One seemingly common structural motif for amyloid fibrils is an in-register parallel (IP) 3 assembly into pleated -sheets, stabilized by backbone-to-backbone hydrogen bonding, combined with favorable side-chain interactions (e....
High resolution 13C NMR field cycling (covering 11.7 down to 0.002 T) relaxation studies of the sn-2 carbonyl of phosphatidylcholines in vesicles provide a detailed look at the dynamics of this position of the phospholipid in vesicles. The spin-lattice relaxation rate, R1, observed down to 0.05 T is the result of dipolar and CSA relaxation components characterized by a single correlation time τc, with a small contribution from a faster motion contributing CSA relaxation. At lower fields, R1 increases further with a correlation time consistent with vesicle tumbling. The τc is particularly interesting since it is 2-3 times slower than what is observed for 31P of the same phospholipid. However, cholesterol increases the τc for both 31P and 13C sites to the same value, ~25 ns. These observations suggest faster local motion dominates the dipolar relaxation of the 31P while a slower rotation or wobble dominates the relaxation of the carbonyl carbon by the α-CH2 group. The faster motion must be damped with the sterol present. As a general methodology, high resolution 13C field cycling may be useful for quantifying dynamics in other complex systems as long as a 13C label (without attached protons) can be introduced.
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