Evaluating Protein Structure and Dynamics Using Co-Solvents, Photochemical Triggers, and Site-Specific Spectroscopic Probes
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University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations 2017 Evaluating Protein Structure And Dynamics Using Co-Solvents, Photochemical Triggers, And Site-Specific Spectroscopic Probes Rachel Marie Abaskharon University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Physical Chemistry Commons Recommended Citation Abaskharon, Rachel Marie, "Evaluating Protein Structure And Dynamics Using Co-Solvents, Photochemical Triggers, And Site-Specific Spectroscopic Probes" (2017). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 2154. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2154 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2154 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Evaluating Protein Structure And Dynamics Using Co-Solvents, Photochemical Triggers, And Site-Specific Spectroscopic Probes Abstract As ubiquitous and diverse biopolymers, proteins are dynamic molecules that are constantly engaging in inter- and intramolecular interactions responsible for their structure, fold, and function. Because of this, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the factors that control protein conformation and dynamics remains elusive as current experimental techniques often lack the ability to initiate and probe a specific interaction or conformational transition. For this reason, this thesis aims to develop methods to control and monitor protein conformations, conformational transitions, and dynamics in a site-specific manner, as well as to understand how specific and non-specific interactions affect the protein folding energy landscape. First, by using the co-solvent, trifluoroethanol (TFE), we show that the rate at which a peptide folds can be greatly impacted and thus controlled by the excluded volume effect. Secondly, we demonstrate the utility of several light-responsive molecules and reactions as methods to manipulate and investigate protein-folding processes. Using an azobenzene linker as a photo-initiator, we are able to increase the folding rate of a protein system by an order of magnitude by channeling a sub-population through a parallel, faster folding pathway. Additionally, we utilize a tryptophan-mediated electron transfer process to a nearby disulfide bond to strategically unfold a protein molecule with ultraviolet light. We also demonstrate the potential of two ruthenium polypyridyl complexes as ultrafast phototriggers of protein reactions. Finally, we develop several site-specific spectroscopic probes of protein structure and environment. Specifically, we demonstrate that a 13C-labeled aspartic acid residue constitutes a useful site-specific infrared probe for investigating salt-bridges and hydration dynamics of proteins, particularly in proteins containing several acidic amino acids. We also show that a proline-derivative, 4-oxoproline, possesses novel infrared properties that can be exploited to monitor the cis-trans isomerization process of individual proline residues in proteins. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Chemistry First Advisor Feng Gai Keywords Co-Solvents, Infrared Spectroscopy, Photochemical Triggers, Protein Folding, Site-Specific Spectroscopic Probes Subject Categories Physical Chemistry This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2154 EVALUATING PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS USING CO-SOLVENTS, PHOTOCHEMICAL TRIGGERS, AND SITE-SPECIFIC SPECTROSCOPIC PROBES Rachel M. Abaskharon A DISSERTATION in Chemistry Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2017 Supervisor of Dissertation ________________________ Feng Gai Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Term Professor of Chemistry Graduate Group Chairperson ________________________ Gary A. Molander Hirschmann-Makineni Professor of Chemistry Dissertation Committee Marsha I. Lester (chair), Edmund J. Kahn Distinguished Professor Tobias Baumgart, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Graduate Chair Sergei Vinogradov, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics EVALUATING PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS USING CO-SOLVENTS, PHOTOCHEMICAL TRIGGERS, AND SITE-SPECIFIC SPECTROSCOPIC PROBES COPYRIGHT 2017 Rachel M. Abaskharon This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ DEDICATION To my Nanny: You always believed in me even when I did not believe in myself iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The past five years at Penn have proved to be challenging and rewarding, educational and inspiring, confidence building and fulfilling. I came into graduate school as an excited yet naïve chemist, ready to see where my research would take me. I am leaving, still excited, but much wiser, knowing that I now possess the skills, knowledge, and experience to follow my dreams to my full capability. Professor Feng Gai has been instrumental in helping me develop into the chemist I am today. He took a chance on an eager, new college graduate and saw the potential in me, early on, urging me to stretch myself academically and professionally, while showing his support in my endeavors. His trust in my abilities provided me with the confidence I needed to tackle any obstacle and push myself beyond the limits I thought I had. I am very grateful for his time, dedication, insight, and guidance throughout my time in his lab, which has been invaluable in allowing me to accomplish what I have today. I would also like to thank my committee members, collaborators and labmates for all of their guidance and support. Professors Marsha Lester, Tobias Baumgart, and Sergei Vinogradov have not only showed interest in my research but have also encouraged me in my scientific accomplishments and goals. I value the discussions I have had with each of them which have allowed to expand my own perspective of my work. Additionally, I appreciate the efforts of Dr. Jeffery Saven in helping me secure external funding throughout my time at Penn. My collaborators and labmates deserve a great amount in credit all of the work here. The collaborations of Professor G. Andrew Woolley, Dr. Stephen Brown, Professor Amos B. Smith III, Teresa Rapp, and Professor Ivan Dmochowski have helped tremendously with the synthesis of compounds and proteins, iv protein bioconjugation, and scientific insights for which I am very grateful. Additionally, I would like to thank all the former and current Gai lab group members and the UOPL staff members that I have had the pleasure of working with including: Dr. Robert Culik, Dr. Ileana Pazos, Dr. Beatrice Markiewicz, Dr. Chun-Wei Lin, Dr. Wenkai Zhang, Dr. Bei Ding, Dr. Kwang-Im Oh, Dr. Natalia Rubtsova, Dr. Patrick Walsh, Dr. Thomas Troxler, Dr. Jian-Xin Chen, Mary Rose Hilaire, Ismail Ahmed, Jeffrey Rodgers, Debopreeti Mukherjee, and Arusha Acharyya. I have been blessed with working with such a talented, kind and inspirational group of people, and I am sincerely thankful for all of your help and friendships. In particular, I want to thank Drs. Robert Culik, Ileana Pazos, and Beatrice Markiewicz for training, mentoring and guiding me in lab and life. Finally, I would never have accomplished what I have today if not for my friends and family supporting me. I am truly thankful to my friends, Melanie Hutnick and Leigh Matano, who were always there through the ups and downs of grad school despite the distance that separated us. To my sister-from-a-different-mister, Dr. Michelle Bunagan, I would not be here without you sharing your love of thermodynamics with me and encouraging me to pursue my Ph.D. I am very thankful to my parents, William and Carol Roesch, who taught me at a young age that in all I do, I should do it with all of my heart and ability to the glory of God. I also want to thank my “little” sister, Jillian Roesch, for making sure I grew up okay. To my husband, Ray Abaskharon, thank you for helping me chase my dreams and believing that “it’s you and me against the world, and the world has nothing on us.” Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank God for guiding me throughout my whole time here and blessing me with everything I have. v ABSTRACT EVALUATING PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS USING CO-SOLVENTS, PHOTOCHEMICAL TRIGGERS, AND SITE-SPECIFIC SPECTROSCOPIC PROBES Rachel M. Abaskharon Feng Gai As ubiquitous and diverse biopolymers, proteins are dynamic molecules that are constantly engaging in inter- and intramolecular interactions responsible for their structure, fold, and function. Because of this, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the factors that control protein conformation and dynamics remains elusive as current experimental techniques often lack the ability to initiate and probe a specific interaction or conformational transition. For this reason, this thesis aims to develop methods to control and monitor protein conformations, conformational transitions, and dynamics in a site-specific manner, as well as to understand how specific and non-specific interactions affect the protein folding energy landscape. First, by using the co-solvent, trifluoroethanol (TFE), we show that the rate at which a peptide folds can be greatly impacted and thus controlled by the excluded volume effect. Secondly, we demonstrate the utility of several light-responsive molecules and reactions as methods to manipulate