Inspection of high resolution three-dimensional (3D)
structures from the protein database reveals an increasing
number of cis-Xaa-Pro and cis-Xaa-Yaa peptide bonds. However,
we are still far from being able to predict whether these
bonds will remain cis upon single-site substitution of
Pro or Yaa and/or cleavage of a peptide bond close to it
in the sequence. We have chosen oxidized Escherichia
coli thioredoxin (Trx), a member of the Trx superfamily
with a single α/β domain and cis P76 to determine
the effect of single-site substitution and/or cleavage
on this isomer. Standard two-dimensional (2D) NMR analysis
were performed on cleaved Trx (1–73/74–108)
and its P76A variant. Analysis of the NOE connectivities
indicates remarkable similarity between the secondary and
supersecondary structure of the noncovalent complexes and
Trx. Analysis of the 2D version of the HCCH-TOCSY and HMQC-NOESY-HMQC
and 13C-filtered HMQC-NOESY spectra of cleaved
Trx with uniformly 13C-labeled I75 and P76 shows
surprising conservation of both cis P76 and packing of
I75 against W31. A similar NMR analysis of its P76A variant
provides no evidence for cis A76 and shows only subtle
local changes in both the packing of I75 and the interstrand
connectivities between its most protected hydrophobic strands
(β2 and β4). Indeed, a molecular
simulation model for the trans P76A variant of Trx shows
only subtle local changes around the substitution site.
In conclusion, cleavage of R73 is insufficient to provoke
cis/trans isomerization of P76, but cleavage and single-site
substitution (P76A) favors the trans isomer.