We have examined the folding, stability and kinetics of intramolecular quadruplexes formed by DNA sequences containing four G3 tracts separated by either single T or T4 loops. All these sequences fold to form intramolecular quadruplexes and 1D-NMR spectra suggest that they each adopt unique structures (with the exception of the sequence with all three loops containing T4, which is polymorphic). The stability increases with the number of single T loops, though the arrangement of different length loops has little effect. In the presence of potassium ions, the oligonucleotides that contain at least one single T loop exhibit similar CD spectra, which are indicative of a parallel topology. In contrast, when all three loops are substituted with T4 the CD spectrum is typical of an antiparallel arrangement. In the presence of sodium ions, the sequences with two and three single T loops also adopt a parallel folded structure. Kinetic studies on the complexes with one or two T4 loops in the presence of potassium ions reveal that sequences with longer loops display slower folding rates.

Expression in Escherichia coli of Streptomyces acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) associated with polyketide biosynthesis using the pT7-7 expression system of Tabor and Richardson led to the production predominantly of inactive a/>o-proteins lacking the 4'-phosphopantetheinyl prosthetic group essential for polyketide synthase activity. Modification of growth conditions led to an increase of production of active Ao/o-protein for the actinorhodin (act) ACP, but this technique was ineffective for oxytetracycline (otc) and griseusin (gris) ACPs. Labelling experiments revealed that a low level of otc ACP expressed prior to induction was produced mainly as active Aofo-protein, while post-induction 15 N-labelled protein was almost exclusively in the apo-ACP form. Limiting endogenous Ao/o-acyl carrier protein synthase (ACPS) concentration was implicated as responsible for low apo-ACP to holo-ACP conversion, rather than limiting substrate (coenzyme A) and cofactor (Mg 2+ ) concentrations. Co-expression of act and gris ACPs with ACPS in E. coli led to high levels of production of active holo-ACPs and ACPS. We have also made the significant observation that ACPS is able to transfer acylated CoA moieties to act apo-ACP.

Acyl derivatives of type II PKS ACPs are required for in vitro studies of polyketide biosynthesis. The presence of an exposed cysteine residue prevented specific chemical acylation of the phosphopantetheine thiol of the actinorhodin PKS holo ACP. Acylation studies were further complicated by intramolecular disulphide formation between cysteine 17 and the phosphopantetheine. The presence of this intramolecular disulphide was confirmed by tryptic digestion of the ACP followed by ESMS analysis of the fragments. An act Cys17Ser ACP was engineered by site-directed mutagenesis. S-Acyl adducts of act C17S, oxytetracycline and griseusin holo ACPs were rapidly formed by reaction with hexanoyl, 5-ketohexanoyl and protected acetoacetyl imidazolides. Comparisons with type II FAS ACPs were made.z 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

The protein calexcitin was originally identified in molluscan photoreceptor neurons as a 20 kDa molecule which was up-regulated and phosphorylated following a Pavlovian conditioning protocol. Subsequent studies showed that calexcitin regulates the voltage-dependent potassium channel and the calcium-dependent potassium channel as well as causing the release of calcium ions from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by binding to the ryanodine receptor. A crystal structure of calexcitin from the squid Loligo pealei showed that the fold is similar to that of another signalling protein, calmodulin, the N- and C-terminal domains of which are known to separate upon calcium binding, allowing interactions with the target protein. Phosphorylation of calexcitin causes it to translocate to the cell membrane, where its effects on membrane excitability are exerted and, accordingly, L. pealei calexcitin contains two protein kinase C phosphorylation sites (Thr61 and Thr188). Thr-to-Asp mutations which mimic phosphorylation of the protein were introduced and crystal structures of the corresponding single and double mutants were determined, which suggest that the C-terminal phosphorylation site (Thr188) exerts the greatest effects on the protein structure. Extensive NMR studies were also conducted, which demonstrate that the wild-type protein predominantly adopts a more open conformation in solution than the crystallographic studies have indicated and, accordingly, normal-mode dynamic simulations suggest that it has considerably greater capacity for flexible motion than the X-ray studies had suggested. Like calmodulin, calexcitin consists of four EF-hand motifs, although only the first three EF-hands of calexcitin are involved in binding calcium ions; the C-terminal EF-hand lacks the appropriate amino acids. Hence, calexcitin possesses two functional EF-hands in close proximity in its N-terminal domain and one functional calcium site in its C-terminal domain. There is evidence that the protein has two markedly different affinities for calcium ions, the weaker of which is most likely to be associated with binding of calcium ions to the protein during neuronal excitation. In the current study, site-directed mutagenesis has been used to abolish each of the three calcium-binding sites of calexcitin, and these experiments suggest that it is the single calcium-binding site in the C-terminal domain of the protein which is likely to have a sensory role in the neuron.

The non-structural protein 4B (NS4B) from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) plays a pivotal role in the remodelling of the host cell's membranes, required for the formation of the viral replication complex where genome synthesis occurs. NS4B is an integral membrane protein that possesses a number of domains vital for viral replication. Structural and biophysical studies have revealed that one of these, the second amphipathic N-terminal helix (AH2), plays a key role in these remodelling events. However, there is still limited understanding of the mechanism through which AH2 promotes these changes. Here we report on solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics studies that demonstrate that AH2 promotes the clustering of negatively charged lipids within the bilayer, a process that reduces the strain within the bilayer facilitating the remodelling of the lipid bilayer. Furthermore, the presence of negatively charged lipids within the bilayer appears to promote the disassociation of AH2 oligomers, highlighting a potential role for lipid recruitment in regulating NS protein interactions.