Secondary structure of calsequestrin in solutions and in crystals as determined by Raman spectroscopy.

Calsequestrin has been precipitated with calcium into five different crystal forms: cruciform twins, flat rectangles, thin needles, bipyramids, rectangular prisms, and a sixth precrystalline form, spheres. Raman spectra of the spheres and the cruciform twins are the same. The Raman spectrum of a physiological concentration (10%) of calsequestrin in calcium-free solution is the same as the spectrum of calcium precipitated calsequestrin in the amide I region, and in the C-C stretching region, but these spectra are different in the amide III region. The Raman spectrum of unfolded calsequestrin in 5 M guanidine hydrochloride is quite different from the other spectra, but it is not similar to the spectra of other unfolded proteins. Estimates of secondary structure from the amide I region indicate that calsequestrin in calcium-free solution and calcium-precipitated forms has 40 +/- 5% helix, 30 +/- 4% beta-strand, and 18 +/- 2% reverse turn. Secondary structure estimates calculated from the amide III region are not significantly different. They indicate 41 +/- 5% helix and 36 +/- 6% beta-strand for the precipitated forms, and 32 +/- 5% helix and 39 +/- 6% beta-strand for solutions. Calsequestrin unfolded in 5 M guanidine hydrochloride at 100 mg/ml gives 24 +/- 5% helix and 48 +/- 6% beta-strand.