Team:Queens Canada/Guide/Protein Structure

From 2012.igem.org

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<li> <a href="#Linkers"> Linkers </a> </li>
<li> <a href="#Linkers"> Linkers </a> </li>
<li> <a href="#Structures"> Structures on PDB</a> </li>
<li> <a href="#Structures"> Structures on PDB</a> </li>
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<li> <a href="#Issues"> Issues</a>  </li>
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<li> <a href="#Pymol">PYmol Building</a>  </li>
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<li> <a href="#Expression">Expression</a> </li>
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<li> <a href="#Gromacs">GROMACS Simulations</a> </li>
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PYmol
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<p>First, you'll have to install it (don't worry, it's free): <a href="pymol.org">pymol.org</a></p>
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<p>Pymol is a really useful program for viewing and modifying protein structures. Here we'll quickly go step by step into specifically building proteins in PYmol and what you need to know</p>
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<li>Load your protein in PYmol: under 'plugins' choose 'PDB loader service' and enter the 4-digit PDB ID for your desired protein.
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<li>Right now you'll be in viewing mode, which lets you rotate and move the camera. To switch to "Editing mode" click on the box in the bottom right that reads "3-button viewing mode".
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GROMACS
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This is something that we are just getting into. Basically, what GROMACS does is simulates your protein structure or other molecule floating in a solvent (usually water).
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Revision as of 03:35, 4 October 2012

Control

Guide to making Chimeric Proteins- Protein Expression

Linkers

In our chimeras we have linker sequences on either side of the chimeric insert sequence. The linkers we chose to use were inert, and flexible linker sequences, with different sequences on either side so that overlap extension will be successful.

FliC -GGGGS- insert -GGSGG- FliC

It is important to also consider the flexible regions of the protein in which you are making your insertion. Flexible regions may be able to accommodate a protein insertion, and would not require very long linkers. However, longer linkers may be required to introduce enough flexibility for the inserted protein to fold properly.

Structures

The protein database is possibly the most important tool in chimeric protein design. Without having any previous knowledge of your structure, it is impossible to really say where or how you would design your chimeric protein. In our case, the crystal structure for E. coli flagellin is not available on the protein database. However, the structure for the flagellin of S. typhymurium was available and is very similar to the structure of E. coli flagellin. The PDB ID is 1UCU.

Additionally, some general assumptions can be made when searching for a good place to make an insertion. For example, the site that we chose to make our variable domain insertions is:

...AVTVANDGTVTMATG...

The insertion was made in between AVT and TVT, replacing the amino acid sequence VANDG. We needed to have some spacing in between the overlap regions for PCR overlap extension, which is why VANDG was replaced.

The presence of several threonine, alanine, valine and glycine residues is indicative of a loop region, which would make a good spot for an insertion. Additionally, when we used PCR to make the overlapping regions for the insertion, we amplified off of the already existing linker used for ovarlapping as a deletion. Hence our total linker was:

...AVTTTGGGGS-insert-GGSGGTSTVT...

Reading_frame
PYmol

First, you'll have to install it (don't worry, it's free): pymol.org

Pymol is a really useful program for viewing and modifying protein structures. Here we'll quickly go step by step into specifically building proteins in PYmol and what you need to know

  • Load your protein in PYmol: under 'plugins' choose 'PDB loader service' and enter the 4-digit PDB ID for your desired protein.
  • Right now you'll be in viewing mode, which lets you rotate and move the camera. To switch to "Editing mode" click on the box in the bottom right that reads "3-button viewing mode".
GROMACS
This is something that we are just getting into. Basically, what GROMACS does is simulates your protein structure or other molecule floating in a solvent (usually water).