Copper Oxide Spike Grids for Enhanced Solution Transfer in Cryogenic Electron Microscopy

하남출,이덕원,Hansol Lee,Jinwook Lee,노성훈 한국분자세포생물학회 2023 Molecules and cells Vol.46 No.9

The formation of uniform vitreous ice is a crucial step in the preparation of samples for cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Despite the rapid technological progress in EM, controlling the thickness of vitreous ice on sample grids with reproducibility remains a major obstacle to obtaining high-quality data in cryo-EM imaging. The commonly employed classical blotting process faces the problem of excess water that cannot be absorbed by the filter paper, resulting in the formation of thick and heterogeneous ice. In this study, we propose a novel approach that combines the recently developed nanowire self-wicking technique with the classical blotting method to effectively control the thickness and homogeneity of vitrified ice. With simple procedures, we generated a copper oxide spike (COS) grid by inducing COSs on commercially available copper grids, which can effectively remove excess water during the blotting procedure without damaging the holey carbon membrane. The ice thickness could be controlled with good reproducibility compared to non-oxidized grids. Incorporated into other EM techniques, our new modification method is an effective option for obtaining high-quality data during cryo-EM imaging.

Fe65단백질의 한 PTB 도메인에 대한 과발현 및 초기 결정화

하남출,노승현 한국생명과학회 2007 생명과학회지 Vol.17 No.2

Fe65, a neuron-specific adaptor protein, has two phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains. The second PTB (PTB2) domain interacts with intracellular domain fragment (AICD) of amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). Recent studies suggested that the complex is composed of AICD and Fe65 transactivates genes that are responsible for neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, a compound inhibiting the interaction between Fe65 and AICD can be a drug candidate to treat AD. However, it remains unclear how Fe65 recognizes AICD at a molecular level. Here, we report high-level production of the PTB2 domain of Fe65 in the baculovirus system. We found that the baculovirus system is an efficient method to obtain the Fe65 PTB2 domain, compared with the bacterial and mammalian expression systems. The purified recombinant protein was used for crystallization to determine its crystal structure helping to understand the molecular mechanism of Fe65-dependent signaling and to design its inhibitors. 신경세포에 특이적으로 발현되는 단백질인 Fe65는 두 개의 phosphotyrosine binding(PTB) 도메인을 가지고 있다. 두번째 PTB(PTB2) 도메인은 아밀로이드 베타 전구 단백질(APP)의 세포질 도메인 조각(AICD)와 결합한다. 최근 연구 결과들은 AICD와 Fe65로 이루어진 결합체가 알츠하이머병에서 신경세포를 죽게 하는 유전자를 발현한다고 제시하고 있다. 따라서 Fe65와 AICD의 결합을 방해하는 화합물은 알츠하미머병을 치료하는데 후보물질이 될 수 있다. 하지만 AICD와 Fe65와 관련된 신호전달에 대한 분자적 기전은 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 이번 연구에서는 Fe65의 PTB2 도메인을 baculovirus 시스템에서 과발현시킨 결과를 보고한다. 세균 및 척추동물 세포를 이용한 시스템과 비교했을 때, baculovirus 시스템이 훨씬 효과적이다는 것을 발견했다. 정제된 재조합 단백질을 이용하여 초기 결정을 얻었다. 결정을 이용하여 앞으로 밝힐 3차원 구조는 Fe65관련 신호전달체계에 대한 분자 기전 및 이에 대한 저해제 개발에 큰 도움을 줄 것이다.

Lab of Protein Structural Chemistry

하남출 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2010 생화학분자생물학회 소식 Vol.30 No.3

Lamin Filament Assembly Derived from the Atomic Structure of the Antiparallel Four-Helix Bundle

하남출,Jinsook Ahn,Inseong Jo,Soyeon Jeong,Jinwook Lee 한국분자세포생물학회 2023 Molecules and cells Vol.46 No.5

The nucleoskeletal protein lamin is primarily responsible for the mechanical stability of the nucleus. The lamin assembly process requires the A11, A22, and ACN binding modes of the coiled-coil dimers. Although X-ray crystallography and chemical cross-linking analysis of lamin A/C have provided snapshots of A11 and ACN binding modes, the assembly mechanism of the entire filament remains to be explained. Here, we report a crystal structure of a coil 2 fragment, revealing the A22 interaction at the atomic resolution. The structure showed detailed structural features, indicating that two coiled-coil dimers of the coil 2 subdomain are separated and then re-organized into the antiparallel-four-helix bundle. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the ACN binding mode between coil 1a and the C-terminal part of coil 2 when the A11 tetramers are arranged by the A22 interactions. We propose a full assembly model of lamin A/C with the curvature around the linkers, reconciling the discrepancy between the in situ and in vitro observations. Our model accounts for the balanced elasticity and stiffness of the nuclear envelopes, which is essential in protecting the cellular nucleus from external pressure.

참관기 : 설악학술토론회를 다녀와서

하남출 한국생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학회) 2008 생화학분자생물학회 소식 Vol.28 No.3

ErbB2 kinase domain is required for ErbB2 association with β-catenin

하남출,슈완핑,넥컬즈렌,정연진,Ha, Nam-Chul,Xu, Wanping,Neckers, Len,Jung, Yun-Jin Korean Society of Life Science 2007 생명과학회지 Vol.17 No.3

To investigate the region of ErbB2 for the $ErbB2-{\beta}-catenin$ interaction, a proteasome $resistant-{\beta}-catenin$ and various ErbB2 constructs were transfected in COS7 cells. ErbB2 proteins were immunoprecipitated, and coimmunoprecipitated ${\beta}-catenin$ was examined by Western blotting. ${\beta}-catenin$ coimmunoprecipitated with full length ErbB2. Of the truncated ErbB2 proteins DT (1-1123), DHC (1-1031) and DK (1-750), the ErbB2 constructs containing the kinase domain, DT and DHC, precipitated together with ${\beta}-catenin$ but DK containing no kinase domain did not. To further test the requirement of the kinase domain for ${\beta}-catenin-ErbB2$ interaction, the presence of ${\beta}-catenin$ in the immunocomplex was examined following transfection with an ErbB2 mutant (${\triangle}750-971$) whose kinase domain is internally deleted and subsequent immunoprecipitation of the ErbB2 mutant. ${\beta}-catenin$ was not detected in the immunocomplex. These results suggest that the ErbB2 kinase domain comprises a potential site for ${\beta}-catenin$ binding to the receptor tyrosine kinase. ${\beta}-catenin$과 결합하는 ErbB2의 부위를 조사하기 위하여 proteasome에 의하여 분해되지 않는 ${\beta}-catenin$과 다양한 ErbB2 construct를 COS7 세포에 transfection한 후 ErbB2 단백질을 그것의 항체로 가라앉혔다. 이 때 공침한 ${\beta}-catenin$을 Western blot으로 분석하였다. C 말단에서부터 잘려진 ErbB2 단백질 중에 kinase 영역을 가지고 있는 것들만 ${\beta}-catenin$과 공침하였다. kinase 영역의 필요성을 확인하기 위하여 kinase 영역이 내부에서 제거된 ErbB2 construct를 ${\beta}-catenin$과 transfection 한 후 동일한 실험을 실시하였다. 이 실험에서 ${\beta}-catenin$는 kinase 영역이 내부적으로 제거된 ErbB2 단백질과 공침하지 않았다. 이 결과는 ${\beta}-catenin$과 결합하는 ErbB2의 위치는 kinase 영역내에 있음을 제시한다.

High-level production and initial crystallization of a Fe65 PTB domain

노승현,하남출,Ro, Seung-Hyun,Ha, Nam-Chul Korean Society of Life Science 2007 생명과학회지 Vol.17 No.1

신경세포에 특이적으로 발현되는 단백질인 Fe65는 두 개의 phosphotyrosine binding(PTB) 도메인을 가지고 있다. 두번째 PTB(PTB2)도메인은 아밀로이드 베타 전구 단백질(APP)의 세포질 도메인 조각(AICD)와 결합한다. 최근 연구 결과들은 AICD와 Fe65로 이루어진 결합체가 알츠하이머병에서 신경세포를 죽게 하는 유전자를 발현한다고 제시하고 있다. 따라서 Fe65와 AICD의 결합을 방해하는 화합물은 알츠하이머병을 치료하는데 후보물질이 될 수 있다. 하지만 AICD와 Fe65와 관련된 신호전달에 대한 분자적 기전은 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 이번 연구에서는 Fe65의 PTB2도메인을 baculovirus시스템에서 과발현시킨 결과를 보고한다. 세균 및 척추동물 세포를 이용한 시스템과 비교했을 때, baculovirus 시스템 이 훨씬 효과적 이 다는 것을 발견했다. 정제된 재조합 단백질을 이용하여 초기 결정을 얻었다. 결정을 이용하여 앞으로 밝힐 3차원 구조는 Fe65관련 신호전달체계에 대한 분자 기전 및 이에 대한 저해제 개발에 큰 도움을 줄 것이다. Fe65, a neuron-specific adaptor protein, has two phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains. The second PTB (PTB2) domain interacts with intracellular domain fragment (AICD) of amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). Recent studies suggested that tile complex is composed of AICD and Fe65 transactivates genes that are responsible for neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, a compound inhibiting the interaction between Fe65 and AICD can be a drug candidate to treat AD. However, it remains unclear how Fe65 recognizes AICD at a molecular level. Here, we report high-level production of the PTB2 domain of Fe65 in the baculovirus system. We found that the baculovirus system is an efficient method to obtain the Fe65 PTB2 domain, compared with the bacterial and mammalian expression systems. The purified recombinant protein was used for crystallization to determine its crystal structure helping to understand the molecular mechanism of Fe65-dependent signaling and to design its inhibitors.

Structure of the Tripartite Multidrug Efflux Pump AcrAB-TolC Suggests an Alternative Assembly Mode

김진식,하남출,정형섭,송새미,김혜연,이강석,현재경 한국분자세포생물학회 2015 Molecules and cells Vol.38 No.2

Escherichia coli AcrAB-TolC is a multidrug efflux pump that expels a wide range of toxic substrates. The dynamic nature of the binding or low affinity between the components has impeded elucidation of how the three components assemble in the functional state. Here, we created fusion proteins composed of AcrB, a transmembrane linker, and two copies of AcrA. The fusion protein exhibited acridine pumping activity, suggesting that the protein reflects the functional structure in vivo. To discern the assembling mode with TolC, the AcrBA fusion protein was incubated with TolC or a chimeric protein containing the TolC aperture tip region. Three-dimensional structures of the complex proteins were determined through transmission electron microscopy. The overall structure exemplifies the adaptor bridging model, wherein the funnel-like AcrA hexamer forms an intermeshing cogwheel interaction with the -barrel tip region of TolC, and a direct interaction between AcrB and TolC is not allowed. These observations provide a structural blueprint for understanding multidrug resistance in pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.

Cleavage-Dependent Activation of ATP-Dependent Protease HslUV from Staphylococcus aureus

정소연,안진숙,권애란,하남출 한국분자세포생물학회 2020 Molecules and cells Vol.43 No.8

HslUV is a bacterial heat shock protein complex consisting of the AAA+ ATPase component HslU and the protease component HslV. HslV is a threonine (Thr) protease employing the N-terminal Thr residue in the mature protein as the catalytic residue. To date, HslUV from Gram-negative bacteria has been extensively studied. However, the mechanisms of action and activation of HslUV from Gram-positive bacteria, which have an additional N-terminal sequence before the catalytic Thr residue, remain to be revealed. In this study, we determined the crystal structures of HslV from the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus with and without HslU in the crystallization conditions. The structural comparison suggested that a structural transition to the symmetric form of HslV was triggered by ATP-bound HslU. More importantly, the additional N-terminal sequence was cleaved in the presence of HslU and ATP, exposing the Thr9 residue at the N-terminus and activating the ATP-dependent protease activity. Further biochemical studies demonstrated that the exposed N-terminal Thr residue is critical for catalysis with binding to the symmetric HslU hexamer. Since eukaryotic proteasomes have a similar additional N-terminal sequence, our results will improve our understanding of the common molecular mechanisms for the activation of proteasomes.

Molecular architecture of the bacterial tripartite multidrug efflux pump focusing on the adaptor bridging model

송새미,김진식,이강석,하남출 한국미생물학회 2015 The journal of microbiology Vol.53 No.6

Gram-negative bacteria expel a wide range of toxic substances through tripartite drug efflux pumps consisting of an inner membrane transporter, an outer membrane channel protein, and a periplasmic adaptor protein. These pumps form tripartite assemblies which can span the entire cell envelope, including the inner and outer membranes. There have been controversial findings regarding the assembly of the individual components in tripartite drug efflux pumps. Recent structural and functional studies have advanced our understanding of the assembly and working mechanisms of the pumps. Here, we re-evaluate the assembly models based on recent structural and functional studies. In particular, this study focuses on the ‘adaptor bridging model’, highlighting the intermeshing cogwheel-like interactions between the tip regions of the outer membrane channel protein and the periplasmic adaptor protein in the hexameric assembly.