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Residue‐wise conformational stability of DLC8 dimer from native‐state hydrogen exchange
Author(s) -
Mohan P. M. Krishna,
Chakraborty Swagata,
Hosur Ramakrishna V.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
proteins: structure, function, and bioinformatics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.699
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0134
pISSN - 0887-3585
DOI - 10.1002/prot.22219
Subject(s) - dimer , chemistry , antiparallel (mathematics) , crystallography , monomer , protein folding , protein subunit , protein structure , dissociation (chemistry) , residue (chemistry) , equilibrium unfolding , energy landscape , biophysics , stereochemistry , biochemistry , biology , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , magnetic field , gene , polymer
Dynein light chain (DLC8) is the smallest subunit of the dynein motor complex, which is known to act as a cargo adaptor in intracellular trafficking. The protein exists as a pure dimer at physiological pH and a completely folded monomer below pH 4. Here, we have determined the energy landscape of the dimeric protein using a combination of optical techniques and native‐state hydrogen exchange of amide groups, the former giving the global features and the latter yielding the residue level details. The data indicated the presence of intermediates along the equilibrium unfolding transition. The hydrogen exchange data suggested that the molecule has differential stability in its various segments. We deduce from the free energy data that the antiparallel β‐sheets (β4 and β5) that form the hydrophobic core of the protein and the α2 helix, all of which are highly protected with regard to hydrogen exchange, contribute significantly to the initial step of the protein folding mechanism. Denaturant‐dependent hydrogen exchange indicated further that some amides exchange via local fluctuations, whereas there are others which exchange via global unfolding events. Implications of these to cargo adaptability of the dimer are discussed. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.