Thermal Stability of Heterotrimeric pMHC Proteins as Determined by Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy

Materials and Reagents

1. Cellulose nitrate 0.45 µm filter papers (Sartorius, catalog number: 11306-47-N )
   
2. 1.2 µm glass microfiber filters (GE Healthcare, catalog number: 1822-070 )
   
3. 10 ml plastic syringes, Luer slip BD Plastipak (BD, catalog number: 302188 )
   
4. 25 G needle (BD, catalog number: 300600 )
   
5. 1 ml plastic syringes, Luer slip BD Plastipak (BD, catalog number: 303172 )
   
6. 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes
   
7. Amicon centrifugal concentrating tubes 4 ml MWCO 10 kDa (Merck, catalog number: UFC801096 )
   
8. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) made up from Dulbecco A tablets (137 mM NaCl, 3 mM KCl, 8 mM Na₂HPO₄, 1.5 mM KH₂PO₄, pH 7.3) (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: BR0014G )
   
9. Ultrapure water (> 18 MΩ cm) for buffer preparations
   
10. Bolt^® Bis-Tris 4-12% precast gels (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Invitrogen^TM, catalog number: NW04120BOX )
    
11. BlUeye prestained protein markers (Geneflow, catalog number: S6-0024 )
    
12. Quick Coomassie Stain (Generon, catalog number: GEN-QC-STAIN-3L )
    
13. Ethanol absolute (200 Proof)
    
14. Nitric acid (HNO₃), 70%
    

Equipment

1. Reusable bottle top filtration device (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: DS0320-5045 )
   
2. Vacuum pump such as KNF Neuberger Vaccum Pump (KNF Neuberger, catalog number: 049268/018121 )
   
3. 500 ml clear Duran bottles (Duran, catalog number: GL 45 )
   
4. Liquid Chromatography system, with a 2 ml injection loop, and a fraction collector; we use the ÄKTA pure 25 L with a F9-R fraction collector (GE Healthcare, model: ÄKTA pure 25 L )
   
5. Size exclusion chromatography column; we use a Superdex 200 Increase 10/300 GL column, bed volume 24 ml (GE Healthcare, catalog number: 28990944 )
   
6. Benchtop refrigerated micro-centrifuge capable of 14,000 x g (e.g., Eppendorf, model: 5418 R )
   
7. Far-UV spectrophotometer with a bandwidth < 1.8 nm and quartz cuvettes. We use a single-beam Beckman DU 800 instrument with microcells that allow measurements with volumes of 50 to 100 μl (Beckman Coulter, model: DU^® 800 )
   
8. A far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectrometer with a temperature controlled cell holder. We use an AVIV Model 215 instrument (Aviv Biomedical, model: Aviv Model 215 ) with a single cell Peltier controlled cell holder, or make use of the Module B end-station spectrophotometer at the B23 Synchrotron Radiation CD (Diamond Light Source, model: B23 ) Beamline at the Diamond Light Source (Jávorfi et al., 2010; Cole et al., 2016). Alternative instruments are available from Applied Photophysics Ltd (Leatherhead, U.K.), JASCO Inc. (Easton, MD), and Olis Inc. (Bogart, GA)
   
9. Strain free sealable quartz cuvettes of appropriate path length fitting the CD instrument’s cell holder. We use Teflon stoppered Hellma Suprasil cells of various thickness, mostly 0.1-cm
   
10. A well-ventilated chemical fume hood should be accessible for cleaning cuvettes with HNO₃
    

Software

1. An analysis software that can import the CD data files and allows curve fitting to a user defined set of equations is required. We use Origin version 7.5 and later (OriginLab Corp., Northampton, MA), but many other programs. e.g., Igor Pro, MATLAB, Micromath Scientist, SigmaPlot, etc. will work

Procedure

1. Purification and buffer exchange of pMHC protein
   HLA-A2 and human β2-microglobulin (β2m) sequences were generated as described and cloned into separate pGMT7 expression plasmids (Cole et al., 2007). Complexes of HLA-A2, β2m and peptides are refolded and purified as described (Bulek et al., 2012, MacLachlan et al., 2017) with the essential steps summarized below. For CD analysis, proteins should be of high purity and the preparation should lack the presence of denatured or incorrectly folded protein. In order to achieve this the proteins are purified on the day of, or the day before analysis, and stored on ice to avoid any freeze thaw cycles.
   
   1. Prepare a 500 ml solution of PBS using 1 tablet per 100 ml of ultra-pure water. With the bottle top filtration device and vacuum pump, filter this solution through a cellulose nitrate 0.45 µm filter paper, with a 1.2 µm glass microfiber filter as a pre-filter, into a 500 ml Duran bottle. Prepare another 500 ml Duran bottle of ultra-pure water.
      
   2. Connect the gel filtration column to the ÄKTA FPLC system and wash with sterile ultra-pure water followed by equilibrating the system with PBS. Wash the 2 ml injection loop with ultra-pure water and equilibrate with PBS using a 10 ml syringe, taking special care to avoid the occurrence of any air gaps that can be transferred to the column.
      
   3. Using a 25 G needle transfer the protein solution, of no more than 1 ml, into the injection loop using a 1 ml syringe avoiding any air bubbles.
      
   4. Run the column at 0.5 ml/min and monitor elution by UV absorbance at 280 nm (Note 1). Collect 1-ml fractions (the number of fractions depends on the elution profile, but we try and take 2-4 fractions from the center of the peak) and analyse by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions to check for purity of the pMHC sample. We use 4-12% gradient Bolt^® Bis-Tris gels, BLUeye prestained protein ladder, NuPAGE MES running buffer, and Quick Coomassie Stain.
      
   5. Run a SDS-PAGE. Upon SDS-PAGE, pMHC dissociates into its constituent parts. Bands of HLA-A2 and β2m run at positions corresponding to ~32 and ~12 kDa, respectively. The peptide (~1 kDa) will run out of the gel (Figure 1).
      
   6. Combine only the purest two or three fractions and concentrate using an Amicon centrifugal filtration tube with a MWCO of 10 kDa. This provides protein of adequate purity and concentration for CD analysis.
      
   7. Directly before CD measurements, spin the samples at 14,000 x g for 20 min at 4 °C usually without resulting in any visible pellet.
      
      
      Figure 1. SDS-PAGE analysis of pMHCI. Approximately 20 µg of pMHCI (right lane) was loaded onto an 4-12% gradient Bolt^® Bis-Tris gel with 3 µl BLUeye prestained protein ladder (left lane) and run at 200 V for 23 min in NuPAGE MES running buffer. The gel was stained for 5 min in Quick Coomassie Stain and destained with ddH₂O. The pMHCI α chain runs as a separate band at ~32 kDa and β2m at ~12 kDa.
      
      
2. Determination of parameters
   
   1. Record UV spectra of the supernatant (step A7) from 360 to 230 nm in a 1-cm quartz cuvette with the buffer baseline subtracted. Within the 360 to 320 nm range, the absorbance should be essentially zero; any slope is due to light scattering indicating the presence of large aggregates.
      
   2. Calculate the 280 nm absorption coefficient based on the amino acid composition (Pace et al., 1995) using the ProtParam website at http://web.expasy.org/protparam/.
      Due to the high amount of the aromatic residues Tyr (5.3%) and Trp (3.2%) within the HLA-A2 and β2-microglobulin sequences combined (see Supplements 1 and 2), a good estimate for (absorption coefficient) can be expected. As HLA-A2 and β2-microglobulin have two and one intra-chain disulphide bonds, respectively, the cystine contribution to the absorption is included (ProtParam option: ‘assuming all pairs of Cys residues form cystines’).
      
   3. Calculate protein concentration from the measured optical density at 280 nm as:
      
      
      
      
   4. Use ProtParam to calculate the molecular mass based on the average isotopic masses of amino acids. All three sequences of the HLA-A2/β2m/peptide complex are entered into the program input field together. To account for the two missing peptide bonds due to the three instead of single chain complex as seen by the program, two times the molecular mass of water (2 x 18.02) is added to the resulting mass M_r.
      
   5. Calculate the mean residue weight (MRW) required for the normalization of the CD data from this mass by dividing through the number of peptide bonds:
      
      
      
      where, n is the number of amino acids within the trimer.
      
      
3. Data acquisition
   
   1. Based on the concentration of the stock solution determined as described above, dilute an aliquot with buffer to result in ca. 600 μl of sample with c ~0.15 mg/ml (~3 μM), and record a further absorption spectrum to give the final protein concentration (Note 2).
      
   2. Following the usual start-up procedure of the CD instrument (30 min flushing with N₂ followed by a further 30 min period for stabilizing the xenon arc lamp), record a spectrum of the buffer (step A1) in a clean 0.1-cm stoppered quartz cell from 260 to ~195 nm with the cell holder equilibrated to 4 °C. This spectrum is termed the baseline. We usually record spectra using a 1 nm bandwidth in 0.2 nm intervals with 3 or 4 sec measuring time per data point resulting in ca. 20 to 25 min per spectrum (Note 3).
      
   3. Record a further buffer baseline in the Kinetic Mode at a constant wavelength of 218 nm for 1 min in 2 sec intervals.
      
   4. Clean the cell with water by rinsing, followed by rinsing with absolute ethanol and dried under a stream of nitrogen.
      
   5. Fill the same cell completely with the protein solution (~550 μl), closed tightly with a Teflon stopper avoiding trapping of an air bubble, and place into the CD cell holder in the same orientation as used for recording the baseline.
      
   6. After ~2 min to allow for temperature equilibration, record the protein spectrum using the same instrument settings as used for the baseline. Data are reliable if the photomultiplier dynode voltage is < 500 V (Note 4).
      
   7. For temperature denaturation, set the wavelength to 218 nm (minimum in CD spectrum). Record changes in ellipticities in 0.5 °C intervals from 4 to ~80 °C using the following parameters: data collection 12 sec/point; temperature equilibration 12 sec; temperature dead band 0.3 °C; instrument heating rate 4 °C/min. During the intervals between data collection, the sample is shielded from the light beam by a closed slit. These settings result in an average heating rate of ~36 °C/h (Note 5).
      
   8. At elevated temperatures the HLA-A2/β2m/peptide complexes form large, visible aggregates (precipitation) that result in sharp changes of the melting profile and an increase of the dynode voltage indicating increased scattering. At this point, the measurement can be stopped.
      
   9. Clean protein precipitate containing cuvettes thoroughly rinsing with water followed by filling with 70% HNO₃ in a fume hood, incubation for 2 h to overnight, rinsing with water, ethanol, and drying with a stream of N₂.
      

Data analysis

1. Import CD data files into the OriginLab software (Note 6).
   
2. For spectra analysis, subtract the buffer baseline. Normalise Θ values recorded in mdeg to molar ellipticities [Θ]_MRW in the classical units (deg cm² dmol^-1) according:
   
   
   
   with the concentration c in mg/ml and cell path length d in mm (Note 7).
   
3. Subtract the mean of Θ recorded at 218 nm in the Kinetic Mode (step C3) from the thermal melt ellipticities, and normalize to [Θ]_MRW^218nm according to Eq. (3).
   
4. Analysis of the thermal stability assumes a 2-state mechanism in which three unfolded polypeptide chains U combine to a native complex N:
   
   
   
   where, the equilibrium constant K is:
   
   
   
   with a total chain concentration c₀ = c_U +3_CN and a degree of conversion to the native state F = 3 _CN/c₀ (see e.g., Engel et al., 1977; Marky and Breslauer, 1987). The standard Gibbs free energy can be written as:
   
   ΔG⁰ = -RT ln K = ΔH⁰ - TΔS⁰ (6)
   
   in which R is the gas constant (8.3145 J K^-1 mol^-1), ΔH⁰ the standard enthalpy, and ΔS⁰ the standard entropy. From Eqs. (5) and (6) it follows for the midpoint of transition, where F = 0.5 and T equals the melting temperature T_m, at which half of the proteins are in the folded and unfolded state, respectively, that
   
   
   
   This means that in contrast to a single chain polypeptide the melting temperature is concentration dependent. T_m and ΔH⁰ can be obtained by fitting the entire transition curve to the van’t Hoff equation:
   
   
   
   obtained by solving Eq. (7) for ΔS⁰ and substituting for ΔS⁰ in Eq. (6).
   The molar ellipticities for the native and unfolded state [Θ]_n and [Θ]_u show an additional temperature dependence which in a first approximation can be assumed as linear:
   
   [Θ]_n = [Θ]_n⁰ + b_n T and [Θ]_u = [Θ]_u⁰ + b_u T (9)
   
   where, [Θ]_n⁰ and [Θ]_u⁰ correspond to the [Θ] intercept at T = 0, and b_n and b_u describe the slopes of the native and unfolded states, respectively. The entire transition curve is thus described by:
   
   [Θ] = F ([Θ]n⁰ + b_n T - [Θ]_u⁰ - b_u T) + [Θ]_u⁰ + b_u T (10)
   
   which is used for fitting with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm implemented in OriginLab. The essential parts of the fitting script are included as Supplement 4.
   
5. As the HLA-A2/β2m/peptide complexes tend to precipitate within the transition region (step C8), we assume a common molar ellipticity [Θ]_u⁰ = -4,500 deg cm² dmol^-1 and slope b_u = 0. For many temperature denatured proteins and model peptides [Θ]_u⁰ values in the -4,000 to -5,000 deg cm² dmol^-1 range are observed (Venyaminov et al., 1993) (Notes 8 and 9).
   
6. Representative data
   The general procedure to analyse the stability of a trimeric pMHC complex is illustrated using HLA-A2/β2m/ILAKFLHWL as an example (Figure 2).This complex has been analysed in detail (Cole et al., 2017) and the structure has been solved in complex with a TCR (Protein Data Bank entry 5MEN).
   
   
   Figure 2. Thermal stability of HLA A2/β2m/ILKA. A. Protein concentration is determined by UV absorbance spectroscopy. Wavelength scans from 360 to 230 nm are recorded in a 1-cm quartz cuvette using the same sample and buffer as used in subsequent CD measurements. Concentration is calculated assuming an absorbance coefficient = 2.257 as calculated based on the amino acid composition. B. A far-UV CD spectrum was recorded in a 0.1-cm quartz cuvette at 4 °C and buffer baselines measured in the same cell using the same instrument parameters were subtracted. The signals were normalized to mean-residue-weight (MRW) ellipticities [Θ]_MRW acc. Eq. (3). C. Thermal stability was determined by following the ellipticity Θ at 218 nm upon increasing the temperature with measuring 12 sec per data point in ΔT = 0.5 °C intervals, an equilibration time of 12 sec between data points, a temperature dead band of ± 0.3 °C, and using slit closure between measurements resulting in a mean heating rate of 36 °C/h (red, left axis). The sample forms large, visible aggregates indicating precipitation in the 58 to 65 °C range (open circles). Data points below this temperature (filled circles) were fitted acc. Eq. (10) resulting in the dashed curve. Aggregate formation is accompanied by increasing light scattering resulting in a steep increase of the dynode voltage (blue, right axis) followed by a decrease when large particles sink to the bottom of the cuvette.
   
   
1. Absorption coefficient and mean-residue-weight are calculated by putting all three sequences (Supplements 1 to 3) into the input frame of ProtParam (step B2) resulting in:
   
   Number of amino acids: 386
   Molecular weight: 44820.03
   .....
   Extinction coefficients are in units of M^-1 cm^-1, at 280 nm measured in water.
   Ext. coefficient   101675
   Abs 0.1% (=1 g/L)   2.269, assuming all pairs of Cys residues form cystines  
   
   
2. The measured absorption of the protein solution (Figure 2A) shows = 0.283 resulting with Eq. (1) in a concentration of 0.283/2.269 = 0.125 mg/ml.
   
3. MRW is calculated according to Eq. (2) as MRW = (44,820.03 + 2 x 18.02)/(386 - 3) = 117.12.
   
4. A CD buffer baseline and spectra of both solutions are recorded according to steps C2 to C6 using a 0.1-cm path length cuvette. Baselines were subtracted, and the spectrum is normalised according to Eq. (3) (Figure 2B). At 195 nm, the dynode voltage was ~500 V. This reflects the high absorbance of the chloride ion included in PBS. The spectrum shows a minimum of [Θ]_MRW = -8,950 deg cm² dmol^-1 at 218 nm.
   
5. The melting curve is recorded as described in step C7 from 4 to 65 °C, the mean value of the baseline (step C3) is subtracted, and molar residue ellipticities calculated according to Eq. (3) (Figure 2C). Using the OriginLab script given as Supplement 4 fit the data according to Eq. (10). Values in the 59 to 65 °C range that show a pronounced deviation from a homogenous quasi-sigmoidal curve indicating protein aggregation (open dots in Figure 2C) were omitted from the fits. Fitting results in T_m = 54.5 ± 0.1 °C and ΔH⁰ = -500 ± 20 kJ/mol with a coefficient of determination r² = 0.988.

Notes

1. Peak fractionation of the pMHC will occur at an elution volume of ~12 ml; it is important to keep only the purest fractions and discard any that contain protein from more than one peak.
   
2. To determine thermodynamic parameters, for HLA-A2/β2m/peptide complexes we aim for a concentration of ~0.15 mg/ml as for most peptides studied so far this can be relatively easily achieved and provides for a good signal-to-noise ratio to follow CD transition curves at 218 nm. Due to the concentration dependence of T_m for multi-chain proteins [Eq. (7)], it is important to settle for a narrow range to allow for comparison of data.
   
3. A cuvette can be regarded as optically clean if the baseline using PBS or water runs about parallel to a spectrum recorded without a cell in the light beam (‘air baseline’); minima observed in the 200 to 225 nm range usually indicate that protein from previous measurements is absorbed to the quartz surface.
   
4. On instruments of other manufacturers, the dynode voltage is called HT (high tension), and the reliable voltage range can differ depending on the type of photomultiplier and electronics.
   
5. The heating parameters have been tested to result in the set equilibrium temperatures by measuring with a Pt100 Resistance Temperature Detector inside a 0.1-cm cuvette.
   
6. The AVIV instrument software stores data in ASCII format. Some instruments from other manufacturers use propriety formats that require exporting into ASCII for analysis via other programs.
   
7. [Θ]_MRW can be converted into molar absorption units Δε = ε_L - ε_R = [Θ]_MRW/3,298, where Δε is the absorption difference for left- and right-handed circularly polarized light.
   
8. From the various MHC complexes studied in our lab, HLA-A*0101/β2m/peptide VTEHDTLLY exhibit high stability both with respect to Tm (68.9 °C) and enthalpy (-719 kJ mol^-1); precipitation occurred only at T > 72 °C, [Θ]_U⁰ > -5,200 deg cm² dmol^-1 (Jones et al., 2016). Using [Θ]_U⁰ = -4,500 deg cm² dmol^-1 resulted in a r² > 0.996.
   
9. For strict thermodynamic analysis reversibility of the transition [Eq. (4)] is a prime requirement. It has been suggested, however, that even if reversibility is limited analysis is still of value as temperature induced cooperative unfolding is usually a much faster process than the aggregation of unfolded protein (Privalov, 2009). To allow for comparison of data, we use the same heating parameters for all samples (see step C7).
   

Acknowledgments

DKC is a Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellow (WT095767). AKS is a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator. This and original work using the described procedures was supported by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (Grant BB/H001085/1). Purchase of the CD instrument was partially funded by BBSRC grant 75/REI18433.

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