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Stability and Structure of Bat Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I with Heterologous β2-Microglobulin

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In situ crystalline structure of the human eosinophil major basic protein-1.

Jie E Yang^1,2,3, Joshua M Mitchell⁴, Craig A Bingman^1,5

¹Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|October 17, 2024

Summary

Scientists uncovered how eosinophils form and release major basic protein-1 (MBP-1) nanocrystals. This reveals a dynamic role for MBP-1 crystals in secretory granule (SGr) content release during immune responses.

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A Guide to Production, Crystallization, and Structure Determination of Human IKK1/α

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Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Structural Biology
Immunology

Background:

Eosinophils are crucial white blood cells in innate immunity.
They play a key role in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.
Eosinophils release cytotoxic proteins, like major basic protein-1 (MBP-1), stored as nanocrystals in secretory granules (SGr).

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the in situ structure of crystalline MBP-1 within human eosinophil SGrs.
To understand the mechanism of MBP-1 nanocrystal formation, stabilization, and mobilization.
To investigate the role of MBP-1 crystals in SGr content release.

Main Methods:

In situ cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) for cellular montage.
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) for high-resolution structural data.
Single-cell and single-SGr profiling of non-activated and IL-33-activated eosinophils.

Main Results:

Determined the in situ structure of crystalline MBP-1 within eosinophil SGrs.
Identified a conserved loop region involved in MBP-1 crystal packing and stabilization, similar to C-type lectin (CTL) proteins.
Observed activation-dependent expansion of MBP-1 crystals and their extrusion from SGrs.

Conclusions:

MBP-1 crystals are stabilized by a conserved loop region within SGrs.
MBP-1 crystals dynamically regulate the release of SGr contents upon eosinophil activation.
In situ macromolecular structure determination is vital for understanding cellular processes.