Sedimentation Equilibrium of a Small Oligomer-forming Membrane Protein: Effect of Histidine Protonation on Pentameric Stability

Summary

Sedimentation equilibrium (SE) can be used to study protein-protein interactions in a physiological environment. This manuscript describes the use of this technique to determine the effect of pH on the stability of a homo-pentamer formed by the small hydrophobic (SH) protein encoded by the human syncytial respiratory virus (hRSV).

Abstract

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) can be used to study reversible interactions between macromolecules over a wide range of interaction strengths and under physiological conditions. This makes AUC a method of choice to quantitatively assess stoichiometry and thermodynamics of homo- and hetero-association that are transient and reversible in biochemical processes. In the modality of sedimentation equilibrium (SE), a balance between diffusion and sedimentation provides a profile as a function of radial distance that depends on a specific association model. Herein, a detailed SE protocol is described to determine the size and monomer-monomer association energy of a small membrane protein oligomer using an analytical ultracentrifuge. AUC-ES is label-free, only based on physical principles, and can be used on both water soluble and membrane proteins. An example is shown of the latter, the small hydrophobic (SH) protein in the human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), a 65-amino acid polypeptide with a single α-helical transmembrane (TM) domain that forms pentameric ion channels. NMR-based structural data shows that SH protein has two protonatable His residues in its transmembrane domain that are oriented facing the lumen of the channel. SE experiments have been designed to determine how pH affects association constant and the oligomeric size of SH protein. While the pentameric form was preserved in all cases, its association constant was reduced at low pH. These data are in agreement with a similar pH dependency observed for SH channel activity, consistent with a lumenal orientation of the two His residues in SH protein. The latter may experience electrostatic repulsion and reduced oligomer stability at low pH. In summary, this method is applicable whenever quantitative information on subtle protein-protein association changes in physiological conditions have to be measured.  

Introduction

Analytical ultracentrifugation^1-5 is one of the most important methods to study interactions of macromolecules under physiological conditions, being accessible to both weak and strong interactions. The method is label-free and uses light absorption or interference, and even fluorescence optical systems can be used to access concentration ranges over several orders of magnitude⁶.

This method is especially useful since most biochemical processes depend on reversible interactions. The stoichiometry and strength of these interactions have to be quantitatively characterized to understand biological processes, and a number o....

Protocol

This protocol is based on the following resources, which are to be referred for more details and special considerations^3,25-28.

1. Density matching of detergent micelles with ²H₂O

Note: The density of the buffer solution needs to be matched to the density of the detergent micelles. Common density-adjusting agents include ²H₂O, H₂¹⁸O, ²H₂¹⁸O, glycerol and sucrose²⁹. H₂¹⁸O has the same density as ²H₂O and may be a better choice if de....

Results

The radial distribution profile of C14SB detergent micelles in 50 mM Tris, 100 mM NaCl pH 7.3 forms a very shallow exponential that could be fitted to a linear model (Figure 7A). The slope of this distribution is inversely correlated to D₂O concentration (Figure 7B). The point where the slope is zero, i.e., the matching D₂O concentration, was found to be 32.3%.

See Figure 7 Below.

Discussion

This paper provides an experimental protocol for sample preparation and analysis of oligomerization of a small membrane protein in detergent using equilibrium sedimentation. The protocol described is equally valid –and simpler- for soluble proteins, as the density matching step is not required. Indeed, the system is constituted by a mixture of detergent and protein. To conduct sedimentation studies, the detergent must be invisible to the gravitational field so that it does not contribute to the particle flotation. .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
3-(N,N-dimethylmyristylammonio)propanesulfonate	Sigma	T0807
Deuterium oxide 99.8%	Cambridge Isotope	DLM-4-99.8
An-50 Ti Rotor, Analytical, 8-Place	Beckman Coulter	363782
An-60 Ti Rotor, Analytical, 4-Place	Beckman Coulter	361964
Cell housing	Beckman Coulter	334784
12 mm six-channel centerpiece, epon charcoal-filled	Beckman Coulter	331376
Window holder	Beckman Coulter	305037
Window gasket	Beckman Coulter	327021
Window liner	Beckman Coulter	362329
Sapphire window	Beckman Coulter	307177
Quartz window	Beckman Coulter	301730
Screw-ring washer	Beckman Coulter	362328
Screw ring	Beckman Coulter	301922
Spinkote	Beckman Coulter	306812
Torque stand assembly	Beckman Coulter	361318
Counterbalance	Beckman Coulter	360219
Cell alignment tool	Beckman Coulter	362340
SEDNTERP			http://bitcwiki.sr.unh.edu/index.php/Main_Page
HeteroAnalysis			http://www.biotech.uconn.edu/auf/?i=aufftp
SEDFIT			http://www.analyticalultracentrifugation .com/sedfit.htm
SEDPHAT			http://www.analyticalultracentrifugation .com/sedphat/default.htm