Issue 10, 2016

Molecular basis for functional switching of GFP by two disparate non-native post-translational modifications of a phenyl azide reaction handle

Abstract

Through the genetic incorporation of a single phenyl azide group into superfolder GFP (sfGFP) at residue 148 we provide a molecular description of how this highly versatile chemical handle can be used to positively switch protein function in vitro and in vivo via either photochemistry or bioconjugation. Replacement of H148 with p-azido-L-phenylalanine (azF) blue shifts the major excitation peak ∼90 nm by disrupting the H-bond and proton transfer network that defines the chromophore charged state. Bioorthogonal click modification with a simple dibenzylcyclooctyne or UV irradiation shifts the neutral-anionic chromophore equilibrium, switching fluorescence to the optimal ∼490 nm excitation. Click modification also improved quantum yield over both the unmodified and original protein. Crystal structures of both the click modified and photochemically converted forms show that functional switching is due to local conformational changes that optimise the interaction networks surrounding the chromophore. Crystal structure and mass spectrometry studies of the irradiated protein suggest that the phenyl azide converts to a dehydroazepine and/or an azepinone. Thus, protein embedded phenyl azides can be used beyond simple photocrosslinkers and passive conjugation handles, and mimic many natural post-translational modifications: modulation though changes in interaction networks.

Graphical abstract: Molecular basis for functional switching of GFP by two disparate non-native post-translational modifications of a phenyl azide reaction handle

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
29 Feb 2016
Accepted
28 Jun 2016
First published
29 Jun 2016
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2016,7, 6484-6491

Author version available

Molecular basis for functional switching of GFP by two disparate non-native post-translational modifications of a phenyl azide reaction handle

A. M. Hartley, H. L. Worthy, S. C. Reddington, P. J. Rizkallah and D. D. Jones, Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 6484 DOI: 10.1039/C6SC00944A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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