Multidomain proteins under force

Nanotechnology. 2017 Apr 28;28(17):174003. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa655e. Epub 2017 Mar 8.

Abstract

Advancements in single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques such as atomic force microscopy and magnetic tweezers allow investigation of how domain folding under force can play a physiological role. Combining these techniques with protein engineering and HaloTag covalent attachment, we investigate similarities and differences between four model proteins: I10 and I91-two immunoglobulin-like domains from the muscle protein titin, and two α + β fold proteins-ubiquitin and protein L. These proteins show a different mechanical response and have unique extensions under force. Remarkably, when normalized to their contour length, the size of the unfolding and refolding steps as a function of force reduces to a single master curve. This curve can be described using standard models of polymer elasticity, explaining the entropic nature of the measured steps. We further validate our measurements with a simple energy landscape model, which combines protein folding with polymer physics and accounts for the complex nature of tandem domains under force. This model can become a useful tool to help in deciphering the complexity of multidomain proteins operating under force.

MeSH terms

  • Connectin / chemistry
  • Connectin / genetics
  • Connectin / metabolism
  • Entropy
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Engineering / methods
  • Protein Folding
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin / genetics
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Connectin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ubiquitin