Conformational studies of the tetramerization site of human erythroid spectrin by cysteine-scanning spin-labeling EPR methods.

We used cysteine-scanning and spin-labeling methods to prepare singly spin labeled recombinant peptides for electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the partial domain regions at the tetramerization site (N-terminal end of alpha and C-terminal end of beta) of erythroid spectrin. The values of the inverse line width parameter (deltaH0(-1)) from a family of Sp alphaI-1-368delta peptides scanning residues 21-30 exhibited a periodicity of approximately 3.5-4. We used molecular dynamics calculations to show that the asymmetric mobility of this helix is not necessarily due to tertiary contacts, but is likely due to intrinsic properties of helix C', a helix with a heptad pattern sequence. The residues with low deltaH0(-1) values (residues at positions 21, 25, and 28/29) were those on the hydrophobic side of this amphipathic helix. Native gel electrophoresis results showed that these residues were functionally important and are involved in the tetramerization process. Thus, EPR results readily identified functionally important residues in the alpha spectrin partial domain region. Mutations at these positions may lead to clinical symptoms. Similarly, the deltaH0(-1) values from a family of spin-labeled Sp betaI-1898-2083delta peptides also exhibited a periodicity of approximately 3.5-4, indicating a helical conformation in the two scanned regions (residues 2008-2018 and residues 2060-2070). However, the region consisting of residues 2071-2076 was in a disordered conformation. Both helical regions include a hydrophilic side with high deltaH0(-1) values and a hydrophobic side with low deltaH0(-1) values, demonstrating the amphipathic nature of the helical regions. Residues 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018 in the first scanned region and residues 2061, 2065, and 2068 in the second scanned region were on the hydrophobic side. These residues were critical in alphabeta spectrin association at the tetramerization site. Mutations at some of these positions have been reported to be detrimental in clinical studies.