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Disordered proteins interact with the chemical environment to tune their protective function during drying
Shraddha Kc1, Kenny H Nguyen1, Vincent Nicholson1
1Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States.
Elife
|November 19, 2024
Summary
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and cosolutes enhance desiccation tolerance by working together. Their protective synergy varies by protein family, with some IDPs forming gels for enhanced function.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are sensitive to environmental changes, playing key roles in cellular processes.
- Organisms survive desiccation (drying) through accumulated cosolutes (e.g., trehalose) and enriched IDPs (e.g., LEA, CAHS proteins).
- The mechanistic link between IDP-cosolute interactions and desiccation tolerance remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if endogenous cosolutes enhance the protective function of desiccation-related IDPs via induced conformational changes.
- To explore the relationship between IDP structural parameters and their synergistic effects with cosolutes during drying.
- To differentiate the mechanisms of synergy between different IDP families (LEA and CAHS).
Main Methods:
- Studied desiccation-related IDPs from four organisms across LEA and CAHS protein families.
- Assessed the synergistic protective effects of IDPs with endogenous cosolutes during desiccation.
- Analyzed structural parameters of IDPs and their correlation with functional synergy.
- Investigated self-assembly and gel formation properties of CAHS proteins.
Main Results:
- Desiccation-related IDPs synergized effectively with endogenous cosolutes to promote desiccation protection across different families and organisms.
- No direct correlation was found between protective IDP structural parameters and synergy for either CAHS or LEA proteins.
- Synergy in CAHS proteins, but not LEA proteins, was linked to self-assembly and gel formation.
Conclusions:
- Functional synergy between IDPs and endogenous cosolutes is a convergent strategy for desiccation protection.
- Mechanisms underlying this synergy differ between IDP families, with CAHS proteins utilizing self-assembly and gelation.
- Understanding these interactions provides insights into cellular strategies for surviving extreme environmental conditions.
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