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Maltose binding protein (MBP) is a monomeric, two domain protein containing 370 amino acids. Seven double cysteine mutants of maltose binding protein (MBP) were generated with one each in the active cleft at position 298 and the second cysteine distributed over both domains of the protein. These cysteines were spin labeled and distances between the labels in biradical pairs determined by pulsed double electron–electron resonance (DEER) measurements. The values were compared with
theoretical predictions of distances between the labels in biradicals constructed by molecular modeling from the crystal structure of MBP without maltose and were found to be in excellent agreement.
MBP is in a molten globule state at pH 3.3 and is known to still bind its substrate maltose.
The ligand-binding affinity of the molten globule and the native states of MBP was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry. Ligand binding affinity measured by isothermal titration calorimetry for the native state of MBP was found to be comparable to that from the literature.
Simultaneous measurements to investigate the molten globule state of MBP were implemented, including the use of far-and near-UV CD and the 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) binding employing fluorescence techniques. Guanidine hydrochloride, urea and thermal denaturation studies have been carried out to compare the stability of the two states of maltose binding protein.
In cw- experiments, the X-band EPR measurements at low temperature confirm indirect that all distances of the biradicals are above 20 Å, otherwise no evidence of dipolar interactions in the immobilized spectra were observed.
DEER measurements of MBP in a molten globule state were yielding a broad distance distribution as was to be expected if there is no explicit tertiary structure and the individual helices pointing into all possible directions.
Employing site-directed spin labeling (SDSL), the structure of maltose-binding protein (MBP) had previously been studied in the native state by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Several spin-labeled double cysteine mutants were distributed all over the structure of this cysteine-free protein and revealed distance information between the nitroxide residues from double electron–electron resonance (DEER). The results were in good agreement with the known X-ray structure. We have now extended these studies to the molten globule (MG) state, a folding intermediate, which can be stabilized around pH 3 and that is characterized by secondary but hardly any tertiary structure. Instead of clearly defined distance features as found in the native state, several additional characteristics indicate that the MG structure of MBP contains different polypeptide chain and domain orientations. MBP is also known to bind its substrate maltose even in MG state although with lower affinity. Additionally, we have now created new mutants allowing for spin labeling at or near the active site. Our data confirm an already preformed ligand site structure in the MG explaining its substrate binding capability and thus most probably serving as a nucleation center for the final native structure.