Conformational transition occurring upon amyloid aggregation of the HET-s prion protein of Podospora anserina analyzed by hydrogen/deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry

Biochemistry. 2003 Jul 29;42(29):8852-61. doi: 10.1021/bi0344275.

Abstract

The [Het-s] infectious element of the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina corresponds to the prion form of the HET-s protein. HET-s (289 amino acids in length) aggregates into amyloid fibers in vitro. Such fibers obtained in vitro are infectious, indicating that the [Het-s] prion can propagate as a self-perpetuating amyloid aggregate of the HET-s protein. Previous analyses have suggested that only a limited region of the HET-s protein is involved in amyloid formation and prion propagation. To document the conformational transition occurring upon amyloid aggregation of HET-s, we have developed a method involving hydrogen/deuterium exchange monitored by MALDI-MS. In a first step, a peptide mass fingerprint of the protein was obtained, leading to 87% coverage of the HET-s primary structure. Amyloid aggregates of HET-s were obtained, and H/D exchange was monitored on the soluble and on the amyloid form of HET-s. This study revealed that in the soluble form of HET-s, the C-terminal region (spanning from residues 240-289) displays a high solvent accessibility. In sharp contrast, solvent accessibility is drastically reduced in that region in the amyloid form. H/D exchange rates and levels in the N-terminal part of the protein (residues 1-220) are comparable in the soluble and the aggregated state. These results indicate that amyloid aggregation of HET-s involves a conformational transition of the C-terminal part of the protein from a mainly disordered to an aggregated state in which this region is highly protected from hydrogen exchange.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry
  • Deuterium / chemistry
  • Deuterium Oxide
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Pepsin A / pharmacology
  • Peptide Mapping
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Prions / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sordariales / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Fungal Proteins
  • HET-S protein, Podospora anserina
  • Peptides
  • Prions
  • Hydrogen
  • Deuterium
  • Pepsin A
  • Deuterium Oxide