Research
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NMR structure determination
Solution state NMR spectroscopy allow the observation of numerous spin interactions which carry structural information of biomacromolecules. The chemical shift of protein signals strongly depends on the secondary structure, scalar couplings across three bonds gives information about the central dihedral angle. Cross relaxation between protons causes cross signals in NOESY spectra which strongly depends on the internuclear distances. These distance data is by far the most important information for structure determination. In addition residual dipolar couplings and hydrogen bonds contribute to the amount of structural information. Using solution state NMR spectroscopy we have determined numerous protein structures as well as protein-protein complexes.
- Read more about NMR as tool for analyzing protein dynamicsHide
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NMR as tool for analyzing protein dynamics
Proteins are not rigid molecules and often dynamic structural changes are required for their biological function. NMR spectroscopy is a powerful method for analyzing protein dynamics on a wide range of timescales. Different mobilities on timescales faster than the rotational correlation time (ps-ns) can be investigated by 15N relaxation rates. Chemical exchange processes on the μs-ms timescale can be addressed by relaxation dispersion measurements. Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) is a useful method to detect dynamics on the ms-s timescale even if the excited states are low populated. Measuring hydrogen exchange allows the characterization of local and global stabilities of a folded protein.
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NMR Data processing
Modern NMR spectrometer show a very high sensitivity. As a consequence the duration for multidimensional NMR experiments is not determined by the signal accumulation for sufficient signal/noise (sensitivity limit) but the overall experiment time is determined by recording the number of data points along the indirect dimensions (sampling limit). Leaving out a majority of data points (non uniform sampling, NUS) and reconstructing the spectrum by more sophisticated methods than the traditional Fourier Transform offers significant savings in NMR time. We apply a self written software based on the Iterative Soft Threshold reconstruction method. Using this approach triple resonance experiments can be run in a few minutes, depending of the sensitivity of a given sample.
Research AG Hennig
The Hennig group employs integrated structural biology (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray, small-angle scattering and cryo-electron microscopy) to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying translation regulation and ribonucleoprotein complex assembly.
Figure1: An example of cooperative, highly specific RNA recognition by two general but distinct RNA binding proteins, Sex-lethal and UNR, regulating the translation of msl-2 mRNA during Drosophila dosage compensation (Hennig et al., 2014).
Previous and current research
Dosage compensation is an essential molecular process in sexually reproducing organisms, which compensates the imbalance of number of sex chromosomes between the sexes. Although these processes can be quite different between species, recent research shows that all have common mechanisms. One of which is the involvement of complexes between proteins and different RNA molecules, mRNA and long non-coding RNAs, often involved in phase separation.
Figure 2: Current model of how translation repression of msl2 mRNA in Drosophila females works to ensure normal transcription of both X chromosomes. Sxl recruits Unr and Hrp48 to the E and F site within the 3′ UTR of msl2.
In Drosophila, we study both, the female and male side. In males, we want to understand how exactly the long non-coding RNAs RoX1 and RoX2 are remodelled to allow assembly of the dosage compensation complex (or MSL complex) on the single male X chromosome to achieve 2-fold hypertranscription. This hypertranscription would be lethal in females. Instead, the female-specific protein sex-lethal (Sxl) binds to the mRNA of the MSL complex’ rate-limiting component MSL2, to prevent its translation. The highly conserved protein Upstream-of-N-Ras (Unr) is recruited by Sxl to the same site on the mRNA (Figure1) and, together with Hrp48, essential for translation repression of msl2 mRNA (Figure 2). The male MSL complex is also conserved in humans, where it is regulating autosomal compensation. All RNA binding proteins regulating translation in female flies are conserved in humans, and Unr for example is highly expressed in certain cancer cell lines.
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Figure 3: Our current hypothesis how RNA regulates the ubiquitination function of TRIM25 (orange). RNA binds to the PRY/SPRY and coiled-coil domain of TRIM25 simulatenously and mediates ubiquitination efficiency of its substrate in antiviral defence.
Another main project of the lab revolves around novel RNA binding proteins, meaning proteins, which do not feature a classical RNA binding domain (like RRM, CSD, KH or dsRBD domains), but have been shown to bind single-stranded RNA in mRNA interactome capture. Of special interest to us are RNA binding E3 ligases of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family. Here we want to understand how RNA binding is connected to these proteins’ main biochemical function: ubiquitination. Based on our data, we hypothesize that some TRIMs bind to mRNA and regulate translation by ubiquitinating components of translation complexes. Other TRIM proteins and their ubiquitination function seems to be actually regulated by RNA, which we could recently show for TRIM25 (Haubrich et al., BioRxiv, 2020, Figure 3).
Future projects and goals
Our ultimate goals are to obtain high resolution structures of these large protein-RNA complexes validated by biochemical and cell biological experiments to get a detailed molecular understanding of these essential mechanism. To this end, we employ all available structural biology methods (NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM and small-angle scattering) and more.
We also collaborate on many exciting projects within and outside of the University of Bayreuth, where we help out with our NMR and integrative structural biology expertise.
Research AG Wöhrl
Structure, stability and physiological function of PR-10 allergens
Globally about 250 million people suffer from food allergies. Many risk factors have been suggested to be associated with the development of allergies, i.e. environmental pollution, tobacco smoke, climate change, altered human gut flora due to nutritional changes etc. Although allergies in developed countries are still on the rise, no true treatment is available. The immune system of people suffering from food allergies combats small proteins existent in pollen, fruit or vegetables that are harmless. Antigen-specific IgE antibodies, together with one of the major effector cells of allergy, the mast cells are crucial for the development of the acute manifestations of these allergic disorders.
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The so-called pathogen-related (PR-10) proteins are causative agents of food allergies. They are found in pollen of birch, alder and hazel, as well as in vegetables or fruits like carrot, celery, pear etc. In birch the most important allergy causing protein is the PR-10 protein Bet v 1. Among birch pollen allergic patients up to 70% develop so-called cross allergies to Bet v 1-homologue food allergens found in fruits or vegetables. These cross-allergies are caused by IgE antibodies that bind to similar or identical structural epitopes on the different allergens which share high structural homology.
Overlay of PR-10 allergen structures. Cor a 1.0401 (black), Bet v 1.0101 (blue, 1BV1), Fra a 1E (green, 2LPX) , Gly m 4 (yellow, 2K7H) and Pru av 1 (pink, 1E09)
Although they are present in many plants, knowledge on their functions is scarce. Our goal is to understand the structure and biological function of PR-10 proteins. To elucidate the function of PR-10 proteins we identify their natural ligands. For these purposes we isolate allergens from natural sources or use recombinantly expressed proteins. We apply various protein purification techniques, ligand extraction and use NMR, HPLC, mass spectrometry, CD spectrometry and biochemical and molecular biology techniques to investigate protein structure, ligand binding and to identify the corresponding ligands.