Broken helix in vesicle and micelle-bound alpha-synuclein: insights from site-directed spin labeling-EPR experiments and MD simulations

J Am Chem Soc. 2008 May 28;130(21):6690-1. doi: 10.1021/ja8010429. Epub 2008 May 6.

Abstract

The region 35-43 of human alpha-Synuclein bound to small unilamellar lipid vesicles and to sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles has been investigated by site-directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The distance distributions obtained from spectral fitting have been analyzed on the basis of the allowed rotamers of the spin-label side-chain. Very similar results have been obtained in the two environments: an unbroken helical structure of the investigated region can be ruled out. The distance distributions are rather compatible with the presence of conformational disorder, in agreement with previous findings for micelle-bound alpha-Synuclein. The propensity for helix breaking is confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Micelles*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / chemistry
  • Spin Labels
  • alpha-Synuclein / chemistry*

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Micelles
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Spin Labels
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
  • 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine