Tryptophanyl substitutions in apomyoglobin determine protein aggregation and amyloid-like fibril formation at physiological pH

J Biol Chem. 2002 Nov 29;277(48):45887-91. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M207659200. Epub 2002 Sep 19.

Abstract

Myoglobin is an alpha-helical globular protein that contains two highly conserved tryptophan residues located at positions 7 and 14 in the N-terminal region of the protein. Replacement of both indole residues with phenylalanine residues, i.e. W7F/W14F, results in the expression of an unstable, not correctly folded protein that does not bind the prosthetic group. Here we report data (Congo red and thioflavine T binding assay, birefringence, and electron microscopy) showing that the double Trp/Phe replacements render apomyoglobin molecules highly susceptible to aggregation and amyloid-like fibril formation under physiological conditions in which most of the wild-type protein is in the native state. In refolding experiments, like the wild-type protein, the W7F/W14F apomyoglobin mutant formed a soluble, partially folded helical state between pH 2.0 and pH 4.0. A pH increase from 4.0 to 7.0 restored the native structure only in the case of the wild-type protein and determined aggregation of W7F/W14F. The circular dichroism spectrum recorded immediately after neutralization showed that the polypeptide consists mainly of beta-structures. In conclusion, under physiological pH conditions, some mutations that affect folding may cause protein aggregation and the formation of amyloid-like fibrils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Apoproteins / chemistry
  • Apoproteins / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Circular Dichroism
  • DNA Primers
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Myoglobin / chemistry
  • Myoglobin / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Tryptophan / chemistry
  • Tryptophan / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Apoproteins
  • DNA Primers
  • Myoglobin
  • apomyoglobin
  • Tryptophan