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Real-time Observation of Coiled-coil Domains and Subunit Assembly in Intermediate Filaments

2002; Elsevier BV; Volume: 277; Issue: 38 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1074/jbc.m206500200

1083-351X

John F. Hess, John C. Voss, Paul G. Fitzgerald,

Silk-based biomaterials and applications

We have utilized electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to study secondary structure, subunit interaction, and molecular orientation of vimentin molecules within intact intermediate filaments and assembly intermediates. Spectroscopy data prove α-helical coiled-coil structures at individual amino acids 316–336 located in rod 2B. Analysis of positions 305, 309, and 312 identify this region as conforming to the helical pattern identified within 316–336 and thus demonstrates that, contrary to some previous predictions, this region is in an α-helical conformation. We show that by varying the position of the spin label, we can identify both intra- and inter-dimer interactions. With a label attached to the outside of the α-helix, we have been able to measure interactions between positions 348 of separate dimers as they align together in intact filaments, identifying the exact point of overlap. By mixing different spin-labeled proteins, we demonstrate that the interaction at position 348 is the result of an anti-parallel arrangement of dimers. This approach provides high resolution structural information (<2 nm resolution), can be used to identify molecular arrangements between subunits in an intact intermediate filament, and should be applicable to other noncrystallizable filamentous systems as well as to the study of protein fibrils. We have utilized electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to study secondary structure, subunit interaction, and molecular orientation of vimentin molecules within intact intermediate filaments and assembly intermediates. Spectroscopy data prove α-helical coiled-coil structures at individual amino acids 316–336 located in rod 2B. Analysis of positions 305, 309, and 312 identify this region as conforming to the helical pattern identified within 316–336 and thus demonstrates that, contrary to some previous predictions, this region is in an α-helical conformation. We show that by varying the position of the spin label, we can identify both intra- and inter-dimer interactions. With a label attached to the outside of the α-helix, we have been able to measure interactions between positions 348 of separate dimers as they align together in intact filaments, identifying the exact point of overlap. By mixing different spin-labeled proteins, we demonstrate that the interaction at position 348 is the result of an anti-parallel arrangement of dimers. This approach provides high resolution structural information ( 2 nm for all other positions. This analysis provides a measure of the separation between spin labels, revealing the periodicity of the distance separation along the positions of the heptad. From the data, we conclude that these two heptads are assembled in a coiled-coil dimer and that the individual monomers of this dimer are arranged in parallel and in exact register. To illustrate the α-helical coiled-coil structure within this region of vimentin, we used the recently determined crystal structure of a 100-amino acid region of cortexillin (39Burkhard P. Kammerer R.A. Steinmetz M.O. Bourenkov G.P. Aebi U. Structure Fold. Des. 2000; 8: 223-230Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (111) Google Scholar) as a model. With this crystal structure as a template for vimentin amino acids 305–405, we used molecular modeling software to introduce spin-labeled cysteine amino acids to heptad positions a through g. Fig.3 C shows an end-on view of the coiled coil with the spin-labeled side chain of each amino acid position in a different color. The appropriate positions of one heptad are labeleda–d, and equivalent positions on the second protein are labeled a′–d′. Looking down the helix, positions a–d (and a′–d′) are labeled red, green, yellow, and purple, respectively. The red and purple moieties are more centrally located, whereas the yellow and green moieties occupy more exterior positions. Spin labels ata and d positions are close enough to interact within one dimer; positions b and c are farther separated and at the limit of spin-spin interaction detection. From this modeling and our EPR data of Fig. 3, A andB, the periodicity of the spectra is easily seen to coincide exactly with the helical nature of the coiled coil. Positionse, f, and g of the heptad can also be modeled and reveal the same exterior positions as positionsb and c. In summary, our examination of vimentin structure within the 323–336 span confirms a self-interaction between labels attached at either thea or d position. If the monomers were aligned in an anti-parallel manner, then at best, only one residue within the entire rod domain would have shown interaction. Had the monomers been in-parallel, but out of register, then no interaction would have been seen. Thus, SDSL-EPR is able to provide the first real-time data that IF monomers are aligned as in-parallel and in-register dimers, within native filaments, formed in physiologic conditions in a manner consistent with predictions of coiled-coil assembly. Having established the ability to identify coiled-coil structures at the level of individual amino acids, we sought to clarify the structure of vimentin positions 305–315, which have been assigned alternately to rod domain 2B or linker 2 (11Albers K. Fuchs E. Int. Rev. Cytol. 1992; 134: 243-279Crossref PubMed Scopus (165) Google Scholar, 14Conway J.F. Parry D.A.D. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 1988; 10: 79-98Crossref Scopus (136) Google Scholar, 16Fuchs E. Weber K. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 1994; 63: 345-382Crossref PubMed Scopus (1284) Google Scholar). Within this sequence, amino acids 305, 309, and 312 were individually changed to cysteine, and the resulting proteins were subject to EPR analysis. As shown in the spectra of these positions (Fig. 4) 305, 309, and 312 resemble the a–d positions in line shape and extensive broadening. From these data, we conclude that the vimentin region 305–316 is in an α-helical coiled structure, revealing a heptad repeat pattern continuous with the region 323–336 discussed above. Thus, EPR analysis shows that rod domain 2B extends from at least position 305. In the previous experiments, a,d residues were found to interact because they are positioned at apposing surfaces of two monomers. The lack of interaction of the non-a–d residues results from the greater separation between spin labels located on opposite sides of the exterior surface of the dimer. We hypothesized that spin labels such as these, on the surface of the dimer, would permit us to study the precise arrangement of dimers in native filaments. Therefore, we spin-labeled vimentin at multiple positions along the outer surface of the α-helix of the rod domain, assembled filaments, and recorded spectra, looking for evidence of spin label interaction. We found that EPR spectra from spin labels placed at positions 345, 348, and 349 showed evidence of interaction indicating physical proximity. Of these three positions, 348 provided strongest interaction, establishing this residue as a point of overlap between two dimers (Fig.5 A). Interaction between spin labels at position 348 is interpreted as resulting from an interaction between spin labels attached to separate dimers. Support for this conclusion is provided by comparing EPR spectra from samples with different proportions of spin label (25Langen R. Isas J.M. Luecke H. Haigler H.T. Hubbell W.L. J. Biol. Chem. 1998; 273: 22453-22457Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (83) Google Scholar). A sample of vimentin containing 10% spin-labeled 348 and 90% wild type vimentin produces a spectrum that shows no evidence of spin-spin interaction; the spin labels are diluted and very rarely interact. The traces in Fig. 5 A each represent the same number of spins as determined from the integration of the sample following addition of SDS. The spectrum from protein completely labeled at position 348 (100%, Fig. 5 A, black line) is significantly more broadened than from the sample containing 10% labeled 348 (Fig.5 A, blue line). The spectrum of the 10% sample demonstrates that position 348 is a non-a,dresidue of the heptad (compare the spectra to those in Fig.3 A), but the spectrum from the 100% labeled sample is broadened. Note that each dimer contains two spin-labeled positions, but only one would be predicted to interact with the second dimer. The second spin-labeled position of each dimer is on the opposite side and would be predicted not to interact unless tetramers assemble further. Although the data in Fig. 5 A show that position 348 is a site of interaction between dimers, these data do not identify whether these dimers are arranged in- or anti-parallel. Unambiguous demonstration of the anti-parallel alignment of dimers with a midpoint overlap at position 348 is provided by EPR spectra of mixtures of spin-labeled proteins (Fig. 5 B). We selected position 334 as the starting point on the outside of the helix (an eposition) and predicted that a site within the region of 355–365 would interact with 334 if dimers were arranged in an anti-parallel fashion. Therefore, mutants at positions 356(b heptad position), 359(e), 363(b), or 366(e) on the outside of the helix were prepared. Spin-labeled 334 was individually mixed equimolar with each spin-labeled 356, 359, 363, or 366 mutant. Assembly of each mixture into filaments was confirmed by electron microscopy, and EPR spectra were collected. To evaluate these combinations independently of line shape differences arising from differences in the rate of rotational averaging of hyperfine anisotropy, EPR analysis was performed on the samples frozen at −100 C°. Quantitative analysis of the spectra was achieved using a Pake deconvolution of broadening functions (40Rabenstein M.S. Shin Y.-K. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 1995; 92: 8239-8243Crossref PubMed Scopus (358) Google Scholar, 41Altenbach C., Oh, K.-J. Trabanino R.E. Hideg K. Hubbell W.L. Biochemistry. 2001; 40: 15471-15482Crossref PubMed Scopus (211) Google Scholar), which optimizes results according to both the strength of the interaction and the fraction of interacting species. Only the mixture of the 334 and 359 spin-labeled proteins displayed evidence of interaction as seen by significant broadening of the spectra (Fig. 5 B). From this mixture, the Pake deconvolution optimization of frozen spectra resulted in a mean interspin distance of 1.6 nm, with a non-interacting fraction of 74%. This labeling level coincides with a distribution of approximately one quarter of the spins interacting. Given an equal number of labeled 334 and 359 proteins introduced into the assembly mixture and a random pairing of these proteins during assembly, the expected population of spins paired at the tetramer level is 25%. Thus, these results provide strong evidence that vimentin dimers in intact filaments are associated in an anti-parallel manner, overlapping within 1.6 nm of position 348. In observing the interaction between positions 334 and 359, more broadening would be predicted if spin labels were placed at both 334 and 359 within the same polypeptide chain. Hence we constructed a double mutant that codes for a Cys substitution at both position 334 and position 359. To simplify analysis, the assembly of the 334–359 double mutant was performed in low ionic strength Tris buffer; under these conditions, tetrameric protofilaments have been demonstrated to predominate (22Rogers K.R. Herrmann H. Franke W.W. J. Struct. Biol. 1996; 117: 55-69Crossref PubMed Scopus (43) Google Scholar, 42Meng J.J. Khan S. Ip W. J. Biol. Chem. 1994; 269: 18679-18685Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar, 43Potschka M. Nave R. Weber K. Geisler N. Eur. J. Biochem. 1990; 190: 503-508Crossref PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar). EPR spectra of the 334–359 double mutant (Fig. 5 B, black line) is different from the spectral sum of the individual mutants (green line). A Pake deconvolution analysis of the double mutant collected at −100 C° was optimized with a mean interaction distance of 1.7 nm and a non-interacting population of 57%. The results correspond to a system in which approximately half of the spins are interacting, matching the alignment predicted by the experiments using a mixture of single-labeled proteins. Thus, EPR spectra provide evidence for the interaction of positions 334 and 359 within vimentin tetramers. Furthermore, quantitative analysis supports the hypothesis that vimentin in low ionic strength Tris is a relatively homogeneous population of tetramers arranged anti-parallel with rod 2B interacting. Visualization of the side chain interactions identified between position 348 and itself, as well as 334 and 359, is provided in Fig.5 C. As in Fig. 2 C, we have used the crystal structure of cortexillin as a model for vimentin dimer structure and have arranged two dimers in a structure consistent with our EPR data. Within the figure, the spin-labeled side chain of position 334 is shown in yellow; 348 is red, and 359 isblue. No other side chains are shown. As depicted, interactions between 348 and 348 as well as 334 and 359 can be seen. The data presented conclusively show that assembly of vimentin intermediate filaments can be studied by site-directed spin labeling and EPR. In summary, our examination of vimentin structure within the 323–336 span confirms a self-interaction between labels attached at either the a or d position. If the monomers were aligned in an anti-parallel manner, then at best, only one residue within the entire rod domain would have shown interaction. Had the monomers been in parallel but out of register, then no interaction would have been seen. Spectral data provide precise structural information detailing the protein-protein contacts between IF proteins in intact filaments. Thus, SDSL-EPR is able to provide the first real-time data that IF monomers are aligned as in-parallel and in-register dimers, within native filaments formed in physiologic conditions in a manner consistent with predictions of coiled-coil assembly. Our data reveal the α-helical coiled-coil nature of the vimentin rod domain and provide evidence that the region 305–336 is an α-helical coiled coil; this identification resolves a discrepancy in the literature (11Albers K. Fuchs E. Int. Rev. Cytol. 1992; 134: 243-279Crossref PubMed Scopus (165) Google Scholar, 14Conway J.F. Parry D.A.D. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 1988; 10: 79-98Crossref Scopus (136) Google Scholar). Two factors account for the broad spectra reported by thea,d positions. First, the wide splittings reflect a lack of motional averaging by side chains located at these positions. This indicates that the rotational freedom of the label is restricted by the protein structure. Second, the magnitude of broadening suggests a dipolar interaction among the labels when they are attached at either an a or d position. Thus the dynamic and spatial observations of spin-labeled positions within this span provide the first direct evidence of an α-helical coiled-coil arrangement with an exact register of the two peptide chains. Non-a,d positions, predicted to be on the exterior of the dimer, do not reveal such strong broadening, indicating that spin labels are farther apart, yet the overall structure is ordered and α-helical. Beyond determination of structure, we have used SDSL-EPR to study assembly of IFs. We have been able to collect spectra from samples in low ionic strength Tris and subsequently from the same samples assembled into filaments. A surprising finding was that little change in rod domain structure is observed between normalized spectra obtained from fully assembled filaments and protofilaments formed in low ionic strength Tris. Under these conditions, higher order assembly beyond tetrameric protofilaments is inhibited, resulting in a predominantly tetramer population (22Rogers K.R. Herrmann H. Franke W.W. J. Struct. Biol. 1996; 117: 55-69Crossref PubMed Scopus (43) Google Scholar, 42Meng J.J. Khan S. Ip W. J. Biol. Chem. 1994; 269: 18679-18685Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar, 43Potschka M. Nave R. Weber K. Geisler N. Eur. J. Biochem. 1990; 190: 503-508Crossref PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar). Two examples of tetramer spectra are shown in Fig. 3 A (green line). This suggests that vimentin assembly beyond the tetramer level does not generate strong tertiary contacts involving the rod domain examined here. Thus, we do not see evidence for a tight packing of neighboring tetramers via their rod domains. This is consistent with the fact that non-a,d positions display moderate motional freedom even in the intact filament. As shown in Fig. 3 C, non-a,d positions are widely separated on the outside of the helix. In a fortunate coincidence, this degree of separation is just slightly greater than the distance EPR can be used to measure. Thus, we have used spin labels placed on the outside of the helix to study interactions between dimers in filaments and assembly intermediates. With this strategy, we have identified an anti-parallel arrangement of dimers that is one of the configurations suggested by Steinert et al. from protein cross-link data (20Steinert P.M. Marekov L.N. Parry D.A. J. Biol. Chem. 1993; 268: 24916-24925Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar). Our conclusions extend the data of Steinertet al. (20Steinert P.M. Marekov L.N. Parry D.A. J. Biol. Chem. 1993; 268: 24916-24925Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar) and identify amino acid position 348 as the midpoint of overlap. Additionally, we have predicted an interaction between adjacent dimers and identified an interaction between positions 334 and 359 of adjacent dimers; this interaction thus proves the ability of EPR to identify interaction between the outer surfaces of two adjacent α-helices. This identification allows for the rational prediction of amino acids that interact between adjacent rods 2B in the anti-parallel arrangement. Our data validate our experimental approach and provide a method for understanding the individual mechanisms behind the growing number of IF gene mutations identified as causing inherited genetic diseases. Because of the numbers and locations of identified mutations, each is likely to have subtle differences from the others. Abnormal assembly products can now be characterized by EPR at any stage during assembly, and the mechanisms behind such abnormal assembly can be elucidated. More broadly, these data establish the utility of SDSL-EPR to provide structural data on filament-forming proteins in general. We thank Dr. Christian Altenbach for kindly providing the Pake deconvolution and simulation program.