IMPROvER: the Integral Membrane Protein Stability Selector

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 16;10(1):15165. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71744-x.

Abstract

Identifying stabilising variants of membrane protein targets is often required for structure determination. Our new computational pipeline, the Integral Membrane Protein Stability Selector (IMPROvER) provides a rational approach to variant selection by employing three independent approaches: deep-sequence, model-based and data-driven. In silico tests using known stability data, and in vitro tests using three membrane protein targets with 7, 11 and 16 transmembrane helices provided measures of success. In vitro, individual approaches alone all identified stabilising variants at a rate better than expected by random selection. Low numbers of overlapping predictions between approaches meant a greater success rate was achieved (fourfold better than random) when approaches were combined and selections restricted to the highest ranked sites. The mix of information IMPROvER uses can be extracted for any helical membrane protein. We have developed the first general-purpose tool for selecting stabilising variants of [Formula: see text]-helical membrane proteins, increasing efficiency and reducing workload. IMPROvER can be accessed at http://improver.ddns.net/IMPROvER/ .

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Clostridium / chemistry
  • Clostridium / genetics
  • Computer Simulation
  • Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 / chemistry
  • Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 / genetics
  • Genetic Variation
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical / genetics
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Protein Engineering*
  • Protein Stability*
  • Pyrophosphatases / chemistry
  • Pyrophosphatases / genetics
  • Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1 / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Software*
  • Structural Homology, Protein

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1
  • Membrane Proteins
  • PTH1R protein, human
  • Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • SLC29A1 protein, human
  • Pyrophosphatases