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Estimation of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Shape and Time-Averaged Apparent Hydration in Native Conditions by a Combination of Hydrodynamic Methods

Protocol
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 896)

Abstract

Size exclusion chromatography coupled online to a Tetra Detector Array in combination with analytical ultracentrifugation (or with quasi-elastic light scattering) is a useful methodology to characterize hydrodynamic properties of macromolecules, including intrinsically disordered proteins. The time-averaged apparent hydration and the shape factor of proteins can be estimated from the measured parameters (molecular mass, intrinsic viscosity, hydrodynamic radius) by these techniques. Here we describe in detail this methodology and its application to characterize hydrodynamic and conformational changes in proteins.

Key words

Molecular mass Intrinsic viscosity Protein shape Time-averaged apparent hydration Protein hydration Size exclusion chromatography Static light scattering Dynamic light scattering Analytical ultracentrifugation Online viscometer 

Abbreviations

M

Molecular mass, g/mol

T

Absolute temperature, K

C

Protein concentration, mol/L (M)

\( {\hbox{d}}n/{\hbox{d}}c \)

Refractive index increment, mL/g

\( {\hbox{d}}A/{\hbox{d}}c \)

Absorbance increment, L/g cm

\( \left[ \eta \right] \)

Intrinsic viscosity, mL/g

\( \nu \)

Hydrodynamic shape function, viscosity increment, Simha–Saito shape factor, unitless

\( \delta \)

Time-averaged apparent hydration, \( {{\hbox{g}}_{{{{\rm{H}}_{{2}}}{\rm{O}}}}}/{\hbox{g}}_{\rm{protein}} \)

\( {{f} \left/ {{{f_0}}} \right.} \)

Translational frictional ratio of the protein, including shape and hydration parameters

\( f \)

Frictional coefficient of the protein, g/s

\( {f_0} \)

Frictional coefficient of an anhydrous sphere of the mass of the protein, g/s

RH

Hydrodynamic radius of the protein, cm

R0

Radius of an anhydrous sphere of the mass of the protein, cm

VH

Hydrodynamic volume calculated from the R H, cm3

Dt

Translational diffusion coefficient, cm2/s

s

Sedimentation coefficient obtained at the temperature of the experiment, Svedberg, 10−13s

\( \eta \)

Viscosity of the solvent, Poise: g/cm s

\( \rho \)

Density of the solvent, g/mL

kB

Boltzmann’s constant, erg/K (K B: 1.38065 × 10−16 erg/K, with erg: g cm2/s2 = 10−7 J 1.38065 × 10−23 J/K)

NA

Avogadro’s number, molecules/mol

\( \bar{\nu } \)

Partial specific volume, mL/g

\( a/b \)

Axial ratio of ellipsoid

RALS

Right Angle Light-Scattering

LALS

Low Angle Light-Scattering

IP

Internal Pressure

DP

Differential Pressure

UV

Ultraviolet absorption

RI

Refractive Index

Notes

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Institut Pasteur (Grant PTR374), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR 3528), and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, programme Jeunes Chercheurs (ANR, grant ANR-09-JCJC-0012).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Unité de Biochimie des Interactions Macromoléculaires, CNRS UMR 3528, Institut PasteurParisFrance
  2. 2.Département de Biologie Structurale et Chimie, CNRS UMR 3528Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biochimie des Interactions MacromoléculairesParisFrance

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