Kahle, M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2022

Insights into the structure-function relationship of the NorQ/NorD chaperones from Paracoccus denitrificans reveal shared principles of interacting MoxR AAA+/VWA domain proteins

NorQ, a member of the MoxR-class of AAA+ ATPases, and NorD, a protein containing a Von Willebrand Factor Type A (VWA) domain, are essential for non-heme iron (FeB) cofactor insertion into cytochrome c-dependent nitric oxide reductase (cNOR). cNOR catalyzes the NO reduction, a key step of bacterial denitrification. This work aimed at elucidating the specific mechanism of NorQD-catalyzed FeB insertion, and the general mechanism of the MoxR/VWA interacting protein families. We show that NorQ-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis, an intact VWA-domain in NorD and specific surface carboxylates on cNOR are all features required for cNOR activation. Supported by BN-PAGE, low-resolution cryo-EM structures of NorQ and the NorQD complex show that NorQ forms a circular hexamer with a monomer of NorD binding both to the side and to the central pore of the NorQ ring. Guided by AlphaFold predictions, we assign the density that plugs the NorQ ring pore to the VWA domain of NorD with a protruding finger inserting through the pore, and suggest this binding mode to be general for MoxR/VWA couples. We present a tentative model for the mechanism of NorQD-catalyzed cNOR remodelling and suggest many of its features to be applicable to the whole MoxR/VWA family.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2018

Heterocyclic sterol probes for live monitoring of sterol trafficking and lysosomal storage disorders

The monitoring of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis and trafficking is of great importance because their imbalance leads to many pathologies. Reliable tools for cholesterol detection are in demand. This study presents the design and synthesis of fluorescent probes for cholesterol recognition and demonstrates their selectivity by a variety of methods. The construction of dedicated library of 14 probes was based on heterocyclic (pyridine)-sterol derivatives with various attached fluorophores. The most promising probe, a P1-BODIPY conjugate FP-5, was analyzed in detail and showed an intensive labeling of cellular membranes followed by intracellular redistribution into various cholesterol rich organelles and vesicles. FP-5 displayed a stronger signal, with faster kinetics, than the commercial TF-Chol probe. In addition, cells with pharmacologically disrupted cholesterol transport, or with a genetic mutation of cholesterol transporting protein NPC1, exhibited strong and fast FP-5 labeling in the endo/lysosomal compartment, co-localizing with filipin staining of cholesterol. Hence, FP-5 has high potential as a new probe for monitoring cholesterol trafficking and its disorders.\n\nSignificance statementCholesterol is a vital steroid molecule with many important functions in animal cells. Although its dysregulation is associated with an expanding list of clinically important pathologies, the study of its role is limited by a lack of reliable tools for live intracellular monitoring. This study demonstrates the applicability of a novel class of heterocyclic sterol probes. These probes exhibit fast cellular uptake with effective fluorescence labeling of sterol species in a variety of living cells, without a need for artificial carriers. When applied to Niemann-Pick disease type C1 cells, they identified massive accumulation of cholesterol in the endosome/lysosome compartment. Thus, several probes from the same series can also be used for visualizing lysosomal storage disorders and sterol transporting pathologies.

cell biology↗