Abstract
The rugged folding landscapes of functional proteins puts them at risk of misfolding and aggregation. Serine protease inhibitors, or serpins, are paradigms for this delicate balance between function and misfolding. Serpins exist in a metastable state that undergoes a major conformational change in order to inhibit proteases. However, conformational labiality of the native serpin fold renders them susceptible to misfolding, which underlies misfolding diseases such as α1-antitrypsin deficiency. To investigate how serpins balance function and folding, we used consensus design to create conserpin, a synthetic serpin that folds reversibly, is functional, thermostable, and polymerization resistant. Characterization of its structure, folding and dynamics suggest that consensus design has remodeled the folding landscape to reconcile competing requirements for stability and function. This approach may offer general benefits for engineering functional proteins that have risky folding landscapes, including the removal of aggregation-prone intermediates, and modifying scaffolds for use as protein therapeutics.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 33958 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Sep 2016 |
Keywords
- molecular conformation
- protein folding
- x-ray crystallography
Equipment
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Australian Synchrotron
Office of the Vice-Provost (Research and Research Infrastructure)Facility/equipment: Facility
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Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility
Danuta Maksel (Manager)
Office of the Vice-Provost (Research and Research Infrastructure)Facility/equipment: Facility
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MASSIVE
Wojtek Goscinski (Manager)
Office of the Vice-Provost (Research and Research Infrastructure)Facility/equipment: Facility