The lipidated membrane anchor of full length N-Ras protein shows an extensive dynamics as revealed by solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
Many proteins involved in signal transduction are equipped with covalently attached lipid chains providing a hydrophobic anchor targeting these molecules to membranes. Despite the considerable biological significance of this membrane binding mechanism for 5-10% of all cellular proteins, to date very little is known about structural and dynamical features of lipidated membrane binding domains. Here we report the first comprehensive study of the molecular dynamics of the C-terminus of membrane-associated full-length lipidated Ras protein determined by solid-state NMR. Fully functional lipid-modified N-Ras protein was obtained by chemical-biological synthesis ligating the expressed water soluble N-terminus with a chemically synthesized (2)H or (13)C labeled lipidated heptapeptide. Dynamical parameters for the lipid chain modification at Cys 181 were determined from static (2)H NMR order parameter and relaxation measurements. Order parameters describing the amplitude of motion in the protein backbone and the side chain were determined from site-specific measurements of (1)H-(13)C dipolar couplings for all seven amino acids in the membrane anchor of Ras. Finally, the correlation times of motion were determined from temperature dependent relaxation time measurements and analyzed using a modified Lipari Szabo approach. Overall, the C-terminus of Ras shows a versatile dynamics with segmental fluctuations and axially symmetric overall motions on the membrane surface. In particular, the lipid chain modifications are highly flexible in the membrane.
Reuther
Guido
G
Institute of Biotechnology, Junior Research Group Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, D-06120 Halle, Germany.
Tan
Kui-Thong
KT
Vogel
Alexander
A
Nowak
Christine
C
Arnold
Klaus
K
Kuhlmann
Jürgen
J
Waldmann
Herbert
H
Huster
Daniel
D
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013696:Temperature; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008074:Lipoproteins; D018631:ras Proteins; D003545:Cysteine; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine