The p53 DNA binding domain (DBD) contains a single bound zinc ion that is essential for activity. Zinc remains bound to wild-type DBD at temperatures below 30 degrees C; however, it rapidly dissociates at physiological temperature. The resulting zinc-free protein (apoDBD) is folded and stable. NMR spectra reveal that the DNA binding surface is altered in the absence of Zn(2+). Fluorescence anisotropy studies show that Zn(2+) removal abolishes site-specific DNA binding activity, although full nonspecific DNA binding affinity is retained. Surprisingly, the majority of tumorigenic mutations that destabilize DBD do not appreciably destabilize apoDBD. The R175H mutation instead substantially accelerates the rate of Zn(2+) loss. A considerable fraction of cellular p53 may therefore exist in the folded zinc-free form, especially when tumorigenic mutations are present. ApoDBD appears to promote aggregation of zinc-bound DBD via a nucleation-growth process. These data provide an explanation for the dominant negative phenotype exhibited by many mutations. Through a combination of induced p53 aggregation and diminished site-specific DNA binding activity, Zn(2+) loss may represent a significant inactivation pathway for p53 in the cell.

Low-barrier or short, strong hydrogen bonds have been proposed to contribute 10 to 20 kilocalories per mole to transition-state stabilization in enzymatic catalysis. The proposal invokes a large increase in hydrogen bond energy when the pKa values of the donor and acceptor (where Ka is the acid constant) become matched in the transition state (delta pKa=0). This hypothesis was tested by investigating the energetics of hydrogen bonds as a function of delta pKa for homologous series of compounds under nonaqueous conditions that are conducive to the formation of low-barrier hydrogen bonds. In all cases, there was a linear correlation between the increase in hydrogen-bond energy and the decrease in delta pKa, as expected from simple electrostatic effects. However, no additional energetic contribution to the hydrogen bond was observed at delta pKa=0. These results and those of other model studies suggest alternative mechanisms by which hydrogen bonds can contribute to enzymatic catalysis, in accord with conventional electrostatic considerations.

The D/H fractionation factor (sigma) is the extent to which a hydrogen at a particular site becomes enriched in 2H over 1H relative to the solvent. A growing body of experimental evidence suggest that there is a correlation between the value of the fractionation factor and hydrogen-bond strength, with a lower sigma value reflecting a stronger hydrogen bond. Fractionation factors of 60% of the individual backbone amide hydrogens in the staphylococcal nuclease V8 variant (H124L) have been measured for the enzyme in the presence and absence of bound ligands (the activating ion Ca2+ and the inhibitor thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate). The method used employed two-dimensional 1H-15N nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of uniformly 15N-labeled protein in mixed H2O/D2O solvents. Fractionation factors of individual residues were found to range from 0.3 (T120) to 1.5 (L38). The sigma value of 0.3 for the NH of T120, which is the lowest fractionation factor reported for any system yet studied, suggests that the hydrogen bond between T120 HN and D77 O delta 1 is unusually strong. The results of previous site-directed mutagenesis experiments [Hinck, A. P. (1993) Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI] support the notion that formation of this hydrogen bond is important to maintain the stability and conformation of the native state. The sigma value averaged over all residues was approximately 0.85 for both the unligated and ligated enzymes. Residues in alpha-helices displayed a slightly lower average sigma value (0.79), whereas residues with solvent-exposed amide hydrogens exhibited a slightly higher average figure (0.98).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

NSC319726 (ZMC1) is a small molecule that reactivates mutant p53 by restoration of WT structure/function to the most common p53 missense mutant (p53-R175H). We investigated the mechanism by which ZMC1 reactivates p53-R175H and provide evidence that ZMC1: 1) restores WT structure by functioning as a zinc-metallochaperone, providing an optimal concentration of zinc to facilitate proper folding; and 2) increases cellular reactive oxygen species that transactivate the newly conformed p53-R175H (via post-translational modifications), inducing an apoptotic program. We not only demonstrate that this zinc metallochaperone function is possessed by other zinc-binding small molecules, but that it can reactivate other p53 mutants with impaired zinc binding. This represents a novel mechanism for an anti-cancer drug and a new pathway to drug mutant p53.Significance: We have elucidated a novel mechanism to restore wild-type structure/function to mutant p53 using small molecules functioning as zinc-metallochaperones. The pharmacologic delivery of a metal ion to restore proper folding of a mutant protein is unique to medicinal chemistry and represents a new pathway to drug mutant p53.

Protein conformational switches alter their shape upon receiving an input signal, such as ligand binding, chemical modification, or change in environment. The apparent simplicity of this transformation—which can be carried out by a molecule as small as a thousand atoms or so—belies its critical importance to the life of the cell as well as its capacity for engineering by humans. In the realm of molecular switches, proteins are unique because they are capable of performing a variety of biological functions. Switchable proteins are therefore of high interest to the fields of biology, bio-technology, and medicine. These molecules are beginning to be exploited as the core machinery behind a new generation of biosensors, functionally regulated enzymes, and “smart” biomaterials that react to their surroundings. As inspirations for these designs, researchers continue to analyze existing examples of allosteric proteins. Recent years have also witnessed the development of new methodologies for introducing conformational change into proteins that previously had none. Herein we review examples of both natural and engineered protein switches in the context of four basic modes of conformational change: rigid-body domain movement, limited structural rearrangement, global fold switching, and folding–unfolding. Our purpose is to highlight examples that can potentially serve as platforms for the design of custom switches. Accordingly, we focus on inducible conformational changes that are substantial enough to produce a functional response (e.g., in a second protein to which it is fused), yet are relatively simple, structurally well-characterized, and amenable to protein engineering efforts.