Probing the Ca(2+)-assisted π-π interaction during Ca(2+)-dependent protein folding

Protein folding is governed by a balance of non-covalent interactions, of which cation-π and π-π play important roles. Theoretical calculations revealed a strong cooperativity between cation-π involving alkali and alkaline earth metal ions and π-π interactions, but however, no experimental evidence was provided in this regard. Here, we characterized a Ca(2+)-binding self-processing module (SPM), which mediates a highly-specific Ca(2+)-dependent autocatalytic processing of iron-regulated protein FrpC secreted by the pathogenic Gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The SPM undergoes a Ca(2+)-induced transition from an intrinsically unstructured conformation to the compact protein fold that is ultimately stabilized by the π-π interaction between two unique tryptophan residues arranged in the T-shaped orientation. Moreover, the pair of tryptophans is located in a close vicinity of a calcium-binding site, suggesting the involvement of a Ca(2+)-assisted π-π interaction in the stabilization of the tertiary structure of the SPM. This makes the SPM an excellent model for the investigation of the Ca(2+)-assisted π-π interaction during Ca(2+)-induced protein folding.