High-resolution NMR characterization of a spider-silk mimetic composed of 15 tandem repeats and a CRGD motif

Glendon D. McLachlan, Joseph Slocik, Robert Mantz, David Kaplan, Sean Cahill, Mark Girvin, Steve Greenbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multidimensional solution NMR spectroscopic techniques have been used to obtain atomic level information about a recombinant spider silk construct in hexafluoro-isopropanol (HFIP). The synthetic 49 kDa silk-like protein mimics authentic silk from Nephila clavipes, with the inclusion of an extracellular matrix recognition motif. 2D 1H-15N HSQC NMR spectroscopy reveals 33 cross peaks, which were assigned to amino acid residues in the semicrystalline repeat units. Signals from the amorphous segments in the primary sequence were weak and broad, suggesting that this region is highly dynamic and undergoing conformational exchange. An analysis of the deviations of the 13Cα, 13Cβ, and 13CO chemical shifts relative to the expected random coil values reveals two highly α-helical regions from amino acid 12-19 and 26-32, which comprise the polyalanine track and a GGLGSQ sequence. This finding is further supported by φ-value analysis and sequential and medium-range NOE interactions. Pulsed field gradient NMR measurements indicate that the topology of the silk mimetic in HFIP is nonglobular. Moreover, the 3D 15N-NOESY HSQC spectrum exhibits few long-range NOEs. Similar spectral features have been observed for repeat modules in other polypeptides and are characteristic of an elongated conformation. The results provide a residue-specific description of a silk sequence in nonaqueous solution and may be insightful for understanding the fold and topology of highly concentrated, stable silk before spinning. Additionally, the insights obtained may find application in future design and large-scale production and storage of synthetic silks in organic solvents. Published by Wiley-Blackwell.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)206-216
Number of pages11
JournalProtein Science
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009

Keywords

  • Circular dichroism (CD)
  • Hexafluoro-isopropanol (HFIP)
  • Multidimensional NMR
  • Nuclear overhauser effect (NOE)
  • Silk mimetic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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