Molten-globule conformation of Arc repressor monomers determined by high-pressure 1H NMR spectroscopy

The conformation of the pressure-dissociated monomer of Arc repressor was characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The NMR spectra of the monomer under pressure (up to 5.0 kbar; 1 bar = 100 kPa) are typical of a molten globule and they are considerably different from those of the native dimer and thermally denatured monomer. The two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectra suggest that the pressure-induced molten globule retains some secondary structure. The presence of nuclear Overhauser effects in the beta-sheet region in the dissociated state suggests that the intermonomer beta-sheet (residues 8-14) in the native dimer is replaced by an intramonomer beta-sheet. Changes in one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectra prior to pressure dissociation were found and suggest the existence of a "predissociated" state.