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Conformational stability of bovine alpha-crystallin. Evidence for a destabilizing effect of ascorbate.

ABSTRACT: Short-term incubation of bovine alpha-crystallin with ascorbate alters the protein conformational stability. The denaturation curves with urea and guanidinium-chloride show different patterns, suggesting a deviation from a two-state mechanism owing to the presence of one or more intermediates in the unfolding of ascorbate-modified alpha-crystallin. Furthermore, the latter protein profiles are shifted to lower denaturant concentrations indicating a destabilizing action of ascorbate, which is capable of facilitating protein dissociation into subunits as demonstrated by gel filtration with 1.5 M-urea. The decrease in conformational stability cannot be ascribed to any major structural alteration, but rather to localized changes in the protein molecule. In fact, no difference between native and ascorbate-treated alpha-crystallin can be detected by amino acid analysis but perturbation of the tryptophan and tyrosine environment is indicated by alterations in intrinsic fluorescence. Furthermore, turbidity and light-scattering measurements suggest an involvement of the lysine side chains, since aggregability patterns with acetylsalicylic acid are significantly altered. The ascorbate-destabilizing effect on the conformational stability of alpha-crystallin, probably exerted through oxidative modification of amino acid residues and/or the formation of covalent adducts, provokes unfavourable steric interactions between residues along the polypeptide chains, thus favouring aggregation and insolubilization of crystallins which can lead to cataract formation, as also demonstrated by proteolytic digestion patterns which show a lower rate of degradation of the ascorbate-modified alpha-crystallin.

SUBMITTER: Santini SA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1133130 | biostudies-other | 1992 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:BackgroundA substitution mutation in human ?A-crystallin (?AG98R) is associated with autosomal dominant cataract. The recombinant mutant ?AG98R protein exhibits altered structure, substrate-dependent chaperone activity, impaired oligomer stability and aggregation on prolonged incubation at 37 °C. Our previous studies have shown that ?A-crystallin-derived mini-chaperone (DFVIFLDVKHFSPEDLTVK) functions like a molecular chaperone by suppressing the aggregation of denaturing proteins. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of ?A-crystallin-derived mini-chaperone on the stability and chaperone activity of ?AG98R-crystallin.Methodology/principal findingsRecombinant ?AG98R was incubated in presence and absence of mini-chaperone and analyzed by chromatographic and spectrometric methods. Transmission electron microscope was used to examine the effect of mini-chaperone on the aggregation propensity of mutant protein. Mini-chaperone containing photoactive benzoylphenylalanine was used to confirm the interaction of mini-chaperone with ?AG98R. The rescuing of chaperone activity in mutant?-crystallin (?AG98R) by mini-chaperone was confirmed by chaperone assays. We found that the addition of the mini-chaperone during incubation of ?AG98R protected the mutant crystallin from forming larger aggregates that precipitate with time. The mini-chaperone-stabilized ?AG98R displayed chaperone activity comparable to that of wild-type ?A-crystallin. The complexes formed between mini-?A-?AG98R complex and ADH were more stable than the complexes formed between ?AG98R and ADH. Western-blotting and mass spectrometry confirmed the binding of mini-chaperone to mutant crystallin.Conclusion/significanceThese results demonstrate that mini-chaperone stabilizes the mutant ?A-crystallin and modulates the chaperone activity of ?AG98R. These findings aid in our understanding of how to design peptide chaperones that can be used to stabilize mutant ?A-crystallins and preserve the chaperone function.

Project description:The chaperone-like activity of alpha-crystallin is considered to play an important role in the maintenance of the transparency of the eye lens. However, in the case of aging and in diabetes, the chaperone function of alpha-crystallin is compromized, resulting in cataract formation. Several post-translational modifications, including non-enzymatic glycation, have been shown to affect the chaperone function of alpha-crystallin in aging and in diabetes. A variety of agents have been identified as the predominant sources for the formation of AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) in various tissues, including the lens. Nevertheless, glycation of alpha-crystallin with various sugars has resulted in divergent results. In the present in vitro study, we have investigated the effect of glucose, fructose, G6P (glucose 6-phosphate) and MGO (methylglyoxal), which represent the major classes of glycating agents, on the structure and chaperone function of alpha-crystallin. Modification of alpha-crystallin with all four agents resulted in the formation of glycated protein, increased AGE fluorescence, protein cross-linking and HMM (high-molecular-mass) aggregation. Interestingly, these glycation-related profiles were found to vary with different glycating agents. For instance, CML [N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine] was the predominant AGE formed upon glycation of alpha-crystallin with these agents. Although fructose and MGO caused significant conformational changes, there were no significant structural perturbations with glucose and G6P. With the exception of MGO modification, glycation with other sugars resulted in decreased chaperone activity in aggregation assays. However, modification with all four sugars led to the loss of chaperone activity as assessed using an enzyme inactivation assay. Glycation-induced loss of alpha-crystallin chaperone activity was associated with decreased hydrophobicity. Furthermore, alpha-crystallin isolated from glycated TSP (total lens soluble protein) had also increased AGE fluorescence, CML formation and diminished chaperone activity. These results indicate the susceptibility of alpha-crystallin to non-enzymatic glycation by various sugars and their derivatives, whose levels are elevated in diabetes. We also describe the effects of glycation on the structure and chaperone-like activity of alpha-crystallin.

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Conformational stability of bovine alpha-crystallin. Evidence for a destabilizing effect of ascorbate.

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