TY - JOUR
T1 - A cis-proline in α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein directs the structural reorganization of α-hemoglobin
AU - Gell, David A.
AU - Feng, Liang
AU - Zhou, Suiping
AU - Jeffrey, Philip D.
AU - Bendak, Katerina
AU - Gow, Andrew
AU - Weiss, Mitchell J.
AU - Shi, Yigong
AU - Mackay, Joel P.
PY - 2009/10/23
Y1 - 2009/10/23
N2 - α-Hemoglobin (αHb) stabilizing protein (AHSP) is expressed in erythropoietic tissues as an accessory factor in hemoglobin synthesis. AHSP forms a specific complex with αHb and suppresses the heme-catalyzed evolution of reactive oxygen species by converting αHb to a conformation in which the heme is coordinated at both axial positions by histidine side chains (bis-histidyl coordination). Currently, the detailed mechanism by which AHSP induces structural changes in αHb has not been determined. Here, we present x-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and mutagenesis data that identify, for the first time, the importance of an evolutionarily conserved proline, Pro30, in loop 1 of AHSP. Mutation of Pro30 to a variety of residue types results in reduced ability to convert αHb. In complex with-Hb, AHSP Pro30 adopts a cis-peptidyl conformation and makes contact with the N terminus of helix G in αHb. Mutations that stabilize the cis-peptidyl conformation of free AHSP, also enhance the αHb conversion activity. These findings suggest that AHSP loop 1 can transmit structural changes to the heme pocket of αHb, and, more generally, highlight the importance of cis-peptidyl prolyl residues in defining the conformation of regulatory protein loops.
AB - α-Hemoglobin (αHb) stabilizing protein (AHSP) is expressed in erythropoietic tissues as an accessory factor in hemoglobin synthesis. AHSP forms a specific complex with αHb and suppresses the heme-catalyzed evolution of reactive oxygen species by converting αHb to a conformation in which the heme is coordinated at both axial positions by histidine side chains (bis-histidyl coordination). Currently, the detailed mechanism by which AHSP induces structural changes in αHb has not been determined. Here, we present x-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and mutagenesis data that identify, for the first time, the importance of an evolutionarily conserved proline, Pro30, in loop 1 of AHSP. Mutation of Pro30 to a variety of residue types results in reduced ability to convert αHb. In complex with-Hb, AHSP Pro30 adopts a cis-peptidyl conformation and makes contact with the N terminus of helix G in αHb. Mutations that stabilize the cis-peptidyl conformation of free AHSP, also enhance the αHb conversion activity. These findings suggest that AHSP loop 1 can transmit structural changes to the heme pocket of αHb, and, more generally, highlight the importance of cis-peptidyl prolyl residues in defining the conformation of regulatory protein loops.
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U2 - 10.1074/jbc.M109.027045
DO - 10.1074/jbc.M109.027045
M3 - Article
C2 - 19706593
AN - SCOPUS:70350365377
VL - 284
SP - 29462
EP - 29469
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
SN - 0021-9258
IS - 43
ER -