High-resolution structure of a BRICHOS domain and its implications for anti-amyloid chaperone activity on lung surfactant protein C.

Willander H, Askarieh G, Landreh M, Westermark P, Nordling K, Keränen H, Hermansson E, Hamvas A, Nogee LM, Bergman T, Saenz A, Casals C, Åqvistg J, Jörnvall H, Berglund H, Presto J, Knight SD, Johansson J

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 109 (7) 2325-2329 [2012-02-14; online 2012-02-07]

BRICHOS domains are encoded in > 30 human genes, which are associated with cancer, neurodegeneration, and interstitial lung disease (ILD). The BRICHOS domain from lung surfactant protein C proprotein (proSP-C) is required for membrane insertion of SP-C and has anti-amyloid activity in vitro. Here, we report the 2.1 Å crystal structure of the human proSP-C BRICHOS domain, which, together with molecular dynamics simulations and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, reveals how BRICHOS domains may mediate chaperone activity. Observation of amyloid deposits composed of mature SP-C in lung tissue samples from ILD patients with mutations in the BRICHOS domain or in its peptide-binding linker region supports the in vivo relevance of the proposed mechanism. The results indicate that ILD mutations interfering with proSP-C BRICHOS activity cause amyloid disease secondary to intramolecular chaperone malfunction.

Protein Science Facility (PSF)

PubMed 22308375

DOI 10.1073/pnas.1114740109

Crossref 10.1073/pnas.1114740109

pii: 1114740109
pmc: PMC3289314
PDB: 2YAD