The major outer membrane protein PorB from N. meningitidis was crystallized in three crystal forms; the best X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.3 Å resolution.

The Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein PorB was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies by denaturation in urea followed by refolding in buffered LDAO on a size-exclusion column. PorB has been crystallized in three different crystal forms: C222, R32 and P63. The C222 crystal form may contain either one or two PorB monomers in the asymmetric unit, while both the R32 and P63 crystal forms contained one PorB monomer in the asymmetric unit. Of the three, the P63 crystal form had the best diffraction quality, yielding data extending to 2.3 Å resolution.

The Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein PorB was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies by denaturation in urea followed by refolding in buffered LDAO on a size exclusion column. PorB has been crystallized in three different crystal forms: C222, R32 and P63. The C222 crystal form may contain either one or two PorB monomers in the asymmetric unit while both the R32 and P63 crystal forms contain one PorB monomer in the asymmetric unit. Of the three, the P63 crystal form had the best diffraction quality, yielding data extending to 2.3 Å resolution.

Heterotrimeric G proteins (Gαβγ) transmit signals from activated G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) to downstream effectors through a guanine nucleotide signaling cycle. Numerous studies indicate that the carboxy-terminal α5 helix of Gα subunits participate in Gα-receptor binding, and previous EPR studies suggest this receptor-mediated interaction induces a rotation and translation of the α5 helix of the Gα subunit [Oldham et al., Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol., 13: 772-7 (2006)]. Based on this result, an engineered disulfide bond was designed to constrain the α5 helix of Gαi1 into its EPR-measured receptor-associated conformation through the introduction of cysteines at positions 56 in the α1 helix and 333 in the α5 helix (I56C/Q333C Gαi1). A functional mimetic of the EPR-measured α5 helix dipole movement upon receptor association was additionally created by introduction of a positive charge at the amino-terminus of this helix, D328R Gαi1. Both proteins exhibit dramatically elevated basal nucleotide exchange. The 2.9 Å resolution crystal structure of the I56C/Q333C Gαi1 in complex with GDP-AlF4 − reveals the shift of the α5 helix toward the guanine nucleotide-binding site that is anticipated by EPR measurements. The structure of the I56C/Q333C Gαi1 subunit further revealed altered positions for the switch regions and throughout the Gαi1 subunit, accompanied by significantly elevated crystallographic temperature factors. Combined with previous evidence in the literature, the structural analysis supports the critical role of electrostatics of the α5 helix dipole and overall conformational variability during nucleotide release.

Potassium channels allow K+ ions to easily diffuse through their pores while effectively preventing smaller Na+ ions from permeation. The ability to discriminate between these two similar and abundant ions is vital for these proteins to control electrical and chemical activity in all organisms. This selection process occurs at the narrow selectivity filter that contains structurally identified K+ binding-sites. Selectivity is thought to arise because smaller ions such as Na+ do not bind to these K+ sites in a thermodynamically favorable way. Using the model K+ channel KcsA, we examined how intracellular Na+ and Li+ interact with the pore and the permeant ions using electrophysiology, molecular dynamics simulations, and X-ray crystallography. Our results suggest that these small cations have a binding site within the K+ selectivity filter, albeit different from the K+ sites. We propose that selective permeation from the intracellular side is achieved mainly by a large energy barrier blocking filter entry for Na+ and Li+ in the presence of K+, and not by a difference of binding affinity between ions inside the selectivity filter.

Purpose

Small intestinal ulcers are frequent complications of therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We present here a genetic deficiency of eicosanoid biosynthesis that illuminates the mechanism of NSAID-induced ulcers of the small intestine.

Methods

Eicosanoids and metabolites were measured by isotope-dilution with mass spectrometry. cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription and sequenced following amplification with RT-PCR.

Results

We investigated the cause of chronic recurrent small intestinal ulcers, small bowel perforations, and gastrointestinal blood loss in a 45 year old male who was not taking any cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Prostaglandin metabolites in urine were significantly depressed. Serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2) production was 4.6% of normal controls (p<0.006) and serum 12-HETE was 1.3% of controls (p<0.005). Optical platelet aggregation with simultaneous monitoring of ATP release demonstrated absent granule secretion in response to ADP and a blunted aggregation response to ADP and collagen, but normal response to arachidonic acid (AA). LTB4 biosynthesis by ionophore activated leukocytes was only 3% of controls and urinary LTE4 was undetectable. These findings suggested deficient AA release from membrane phospholipids by cytosolic phospholipase A2-α (cPLA2-α) which regulates cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase mediated eicosanoid production by catalyzing the release of their substrate, AA. Sequencing of cPLA2-α cDNA demonstrated 2 heterozygous non-synonymous single base pair mutations: Ser111Pro (S111P) and Arg485His (R485H), as well as a known SNP: Lys651Arg (K651R).

Conclusion

Characterization of this cPLA2-α deficiency provides support for the importance of prostaglandins in protecting small intestinal integrity, and indicates that loss of prostaglandin biosynthesis is sufficient to produce small intestinal ulcers.