title: Folding pathway mediated by an intramolecular chaperone: characterization of the structural changes in pro-subtilisin E coincident with autoprocessing.
abstract: Mechanisms by which many N-terminal propeptides facilitate folding of proteins are unknown. The maturation of such proteins from their precursors involve three steps, namely: (1) folding of the precursor, (2) autoprocessing of the propeptide from the N terminus and (3) degradation of the cleaved propeptide. Using subtilisin E we have analyzed the mechanism of propeptide-mediated protein folding. Two active site mutations allow us to trap intermediates at stages of autoprocessing and degradation. An analysis of these intermediates has shown the existence of a molten-globule-like intermediate on the folding pathway. After autoprocessing of the propeptide, this intermediate undergoes a structural reorganization which reduces solvent-accessible hydrophobic surface area and increases the amount of its tertiary structure. Removal of the propeptide from the mature enzyme in this intermediate state occurs only by proteolytic degradation and contributes to the stability of the active enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway 08854, USA.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inouye
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006358:Hot Temperature; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D013381:Subtilisins