Protein free energy landscapes remodeled by ligand binding

Biophys J. 2007 Jul 15;93(2):579-85. doi: 10.1529/biophysj.107.103911. Epub 2007 May 4.

Abstract

Glucose/galactose binding protein (GGBP) functions in two different larger systems of proteins used by enteric bacteria for molecular recognition and signaling. Here we report on the thermodynamics of conformational equilibrium distributions of GGBP. Three fluorescence components appear at zero glucose concentration and systematically transition to three components at high glucose concentration. Fluorescence anisotropy correlations, fluorescent lifetimes, thermodynamics, computational structure minimization, and literature work were used to assign the three components as open, closed, and twisted conformations of the protein. The existence of three states at all glucose concentrations indicates that the protein continuously fluctuates about its conformational state space via thermally driven state transitions; glucose biases the populations by reorganizing the free energy profile. These results and their implications are discussed in terms of the two types of specific and nonspecific interactions GGBP has with cytoplasmic membrane proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Enterobacteriaceae / metabolism*
  • Fluorescence Polarization
  • Galactose / metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / chemistry*
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Glucose
  • Galactose