alpha-synuclein and 5-fluorotryptophan

Analysis of conventional proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments on intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) is challenging because of the highly flexible and multiple rapidly exchanging conformations typifying this class of proteins. One method to circumvent some of these difficulties is to incorporate nonnative fluorine ((19)F) nuclei at specific sites within the polypeptide. (19)F NMR is particularly suitable for characterization of unfolded structures because (19)F chemical shifts are highly sensitive to local environments and conformations. Furthermore, the incorporation of fluorine analogs of fluorescent amino acids such as 5-fluoro-D: ,L: -tryptophan (5FW) allows for complementary studies of protein microenvironment via fluorescence spectroscopy. Herein, we describe methods to produce, purify, characterize, and perform steady-state fluorescence and 1D NMR experiments on 5FW analogs of the IDP α-synuclein.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Escherichia coli; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Isotope Labeling; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Protein Conformation; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tryptophan

Alpha-synuclein, the main protein component of fibrillar deposits found in Parkinson's disease, is intrinsically disordered in vitro. Site-specific information on the protein conformation has been obtained by biosynthetic incorporation of an unnatural amino acid, 5-fluorotryptophan (5FW), into the recombinant protein. Using fluorescence and 19F NMR spectroscopy, we have characterized three proteins with 5FW at positions 4, 39, and 94. Steady-state emission spectra (maxima at 353 nm; quantum yields approximately 0.2) indicate that all three indole side chains are exposed to the aqueous medium. Virtually identical single-exponential excited-state decays (tau approximately 3.4 ns) were observed in all three cases. Single 19F NMR resonances were measured for W4, W39, and W94 at -49.0 +/- 0.1 ppm. Our analysis of the spectroscopic data suggests that the protein conformations are very similar in the regions near the three sites.

Topics: alpha-Synuclein; Fluorescence; Fluorine; Isotopes; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Tryptophan