Measuring pK(a) values in protein folding transition state ensembles by NMR spectroscopy

Protein folding kinetic data have been obtained for the marginally stable N-terminal SH3 domain of the Drosophila protein drk as a function of pH in order to investigate the electrostatic properties of Asp8 in the folding transition state ensemble. The slow exchange between folded and unfolded forms of the protein gives rise to separate NMR resonances for both folded and unfolded states at equilibrium. As a result, kinetic data can be derived from magnetization transfer between these two states without the need for denaturants. Using the fact that ionization of Asp8 dominates the electrostatic behavior of the protein between pH 2 and 3, along with pKa values for titrating groups in both folded and unfolded states that have been determined in a previous study, values of 2.9 +/- 0.1 and 3.3 +/- 0.2 are obtained for the pKa of Asp8 in the transition state for the wild-type protein and for a His7Ala mutant, respectively. The data are consistent with the partial formation in the transition state ensemble of an Asp8 side chain carboxylate-a Lys21 backbone amide interaction that represents a highly conserved contact in folded SH3 domains.