Solid-State NMR Identification of Intermolecular Interactions in Amelogenin Bound to Hydroxyapatite
The ability to develop materials with hierarchical structure and controlled properties is highly desirable. Biomineralization processes govern the formation of hierarchical hard tissues such as bone and teeth and mimicking these processes could allow new materials with difffernet properties. The proteins present during biomineral formation are proposed to play a critical role in the unique properties of these minerals. While structure is commonly affiliated with the function of proteins, biomineralization proteins are bound to a solid surface in their physiologically relevant form, limiting the role of protein structure due to the inability to use many conventional structure characterization techniques. Here, solid state NMR spectroscopy was applied to study the intermolecular interactions of amelogenin in self-assembled oligomers bound to hydroxyapatite. Amelogenin is the most abundant protein present during the early stages of enamel formation and is essential for normal enamel development. Intermolecular dipolar couplings were identified that support amelogenin dimer formation due to interactions between residues in the C-termini. These dipolar interactions were corroborated by molecular dynamics computer simulations. We also identified b-sheet structure in multiple regions of the protein, further developing our knowledge of this protein. This is the first intermolecular protein-protein interaction reported for a biomineralization protein, representing an advancement in understanding enamel development and a new general strategy towards investigating biomineralization proteins.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1503553
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-131727
- Journal Information:
- Biophysical Journal, Vol. 115, Issue 9; ISSN 0006-3495
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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