Proteins exist as diverse proteoforms resulting from a combination of genetic variation, alternative splicing, and post-translational modifications. Current methods struggle to capture this complexity at the single-molecule level. Here we introduce Iterative Ma pping of P roteoforms (IMaP), a method that enables the massively-parallel interrogation of millions to billions of single-protein molecules through iterative probing with fluorescently labeled antibodies. Using 12 site-specific antibodies, the method is capable of measuring 2 12 (4,096) potential proteoform groups. We used IMaP to measure proteoform group profiles of the tau protein, a key player in neurodegenerative diseases, using two pan anti-tau antibodies (Tau-13, Tau-216), three isoform-specific antibodies (Anti-0N, Anti-2N, Anti-4R), and seven phosphosite-specific antibodies (Anti-pT181, Anti-pS202+pT205, Anti-pT205, Anti-pS214, Anti-pT217, Anti-pT231, and Anti-pS396). The method demonstrates high sensitivity (detecting proteoforms at 0.1% abundance), high reproducibility (median CV <5.5%), and broad dynamic range (>3 orders of magnitude), outperforming conventional techniques in resolving closely related proteoform groups. We demonstrated that the method can be used on relevant biological samples by examining various neuronal models (iNeuron cells, organoids, MiBrains, and mouse brains) and human samples. This examination revealed 130 distinct tau proteoform groups with as many as six phosphorylation events. The non-random distribution of these phosphorylation events suggests ordered and site-specific modification processes rather than random, stochastic accumulation. Certain combinations of phosphorylation events were more abundant than others; for example, pT217 preferentially co-occurred with pT181. In validating the applicability of the assay to human disease samples, we noted a specific pattern of multiple phosphorylation events in an advanced Alzheimer's disease patient that suggests a sequential pathway of pathological tau modification. Iterative Mapping of Proteoforms provides insights into proteoform complexity at the single-molecule level, with significant implications for understanding protein regulation in neurodegenerative diseases and beyond.

Sterile alpha and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) is an oligomeric NAD⁺-consuming enzyme that drives programmed axonal degeneration. SARM1 activity is controlled by opposing metabolites: NAD⁺ stabilizes an inactive conformation, whereas nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) promotes activation. Orthosteric base-exchange inhibitors (BEIs) were developed to suppress SARM1 activity, but several studies have reported paradoxical activation at subinhibitory concentrations. Here, we integrate biochemical kinetics, binding measurements, structural analysis, and cellular assays to evaluate a two-state Monod-Wyman-Changeux framework for SARM1 regulation. The data support a model in which SARM1 favors an inactive T state without activating ligand, NMN stabilizes an active R state, and NAD⁺ both allosterically favors the inactive state and serves as substrate. The transition occurs concertedly through a minimal dimeric cooperative unit that generates two catalytic sites. This framework explains NAD⁺-dependent substrate inhibition, state-dependent cooperativity, and low-dose activation by orthosteric BEIs, with implications for targeting oligomeric enzymes with concerted transitions.

Human β-tryptase, a tetrameric trypsin-like serine protease, is an important mediator of inflammatory responses in asthma, allergy and other diseases. Here we report an anti-β-tryptase antibody with a superior mechanism of action compared to others since it not only inhibits tetrameric β-tryptase, but also completely inhibits monomeric β-tryptase activity. The antibody binds to an exosite that causes tetramer dissociation as either an IgG or Fab and, in addition, allosterically alters the substrate binding cleft on monomers, thus preventing substrate binding and proteolysis. We solve the cryoEM structure of the complex, generate biochemical data and engineer point mutations to elucidate the allosteric path of inhibition. This ultimately reveals a single Asp to Gly mutation in CDR-L3 that only slightly impacts binding affinity, but completely eliminates inhibitory activity. Finally, we improve antibody inhibitory potency up to 4.7-fold by structure-based design creating new charge-charge interactions. This antibody may have enhanced efficacy and potential to assess the relevance of β-tryptase, including monomers, in biological and clinical settings.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a nonselective cation channel predominantly expressed in sensory neurons. Genetic associations of TRPA1 with human diseases, along with extensive experimental evidence, have fueled interest in targeting TRPA1 for the treatment of pain, itch, and respiratory disorders. TRPA1 responds to a remarkably broad spectrum of agonists, including electrophilic and nonelectrophilic natural products, endogenous metabolites, marketed drugs, and synthetic compounds. Numerous antagonists have been identified, several of which have advanced into clinical trials. Recent cryogenic electron microscopy and mutagenesis studies have revealed at least ten distinct ligand-binding sites and modulation mechanisms. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the versatile pharmacology of TRPA1 and its therapeutic development, shaped by both natural and rationally designed modulators.

High-resolution protein structures are essential for understanding biological mechanisms and drug discovery. While cryoEM has revolutionized structure determination of large protein complexes, most disease-related proteins are small (<50 kDa) and challenging to resolve due to low signal-to-noise ratios and alignment difficulties. Current scaffold protein strategies increase target size but suffer from inherent flexibility, resulting in poorly resolved targets compared to scaffolds. We present an iteratively engineered molecular design transforming antibody fragments (Fabs) into conformationally Rigid Fabs that enable high-resolution structure determination of small proteins (~20 kDa). This design introduces strategic disulfide bonds, creating well-folded, rigidly constrained Fabs applicable across various species, frameworks, and chimeric constructs. Rigid Fabs enabled high-resolution cryoEM structures (2.3-2.5 Å) of two small proteins: Ang2 (26 kDa) and KRAS (21 kDa). Our disulfide-constrained Rigid Fab strategy provides a general approach for overcoming target size limitation of single-particle cryoEM.

The endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) transmembrane protein IRE1 mitigates ER stress through kinase-endoribonuclease and scaffolding activities. Cancer cells often co-opt IRE1 to facilitate growth. An IRE1-RNase inhibitor has entered clinical trials; however, recent work uncovered a significant nonenzymatic IRE1 dependency in cancer. To fully disrupt IRE1, we describe a proteolysis-targeting chimera (G6374) that couples an IRE1-kinase ligand to a compound that binds the ubiquitin Cullin-RING Ligase (CRL) substrate receptor, VHL. G6374 induces a stable, cooperative interaction between IRE1 and VHL, driving K48-linked ubiquitination on two principal lysine residues in the IRE1-kinase domain and inducing proteasomal IRE1 degradation. Cryogenic electron microscopy and mutagenesis studies reveal a 2:2 IRE1:VHL ternary-complex topology and critical interactional features, informing future designs. G6374 blocks growth of IRE1-dependent cancer cells irrespective of their dependency mode, while sparing IRE1-independent cells. We provide a proof-of-concept for VHL-based degradation of an ER-transmembrane protein, advancing strategies to fully disrupt IRE1.

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) family, including TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3, is synthesized as pro-peptides with a latency-associated protein (LAP) and a receptor binding domain. These pro-peptides are processed into latent complexes that, for TGF-β1, can not engage TGFβ receptors unless activated. Latent TGF-β1 requires integrin-dependent activation, whereas latent TGF-β3 exhibits intrinsic activity via an integrin-independent mechanism with lower activation thresholds. The mechanistic basis for latent TGF-β3 activity remains unclear. We demonstrate that a specific motif in the LAP of TGF-β1, absent in the LAP of TGF-β3, suppresses the integrin-independent activity of TGF-β3. This activity can be restored through integrin-dependent mechanisms, mimicking regulation seen in TGF-β1. Latent TGF-β3 strongly associates with its high-affinity receptor TGFβR2, leading to effective downstream signaling and collagen deposition in fibroblasts. Using CryoEM, we resolved the structure of latent TGF-β3, revealing a dynamic interaction between the LAP and the receptor binding domain that explains its activity. Substituting a minimal LAP motif from TGF-β1 into TGF-β3 enforces more stringent regulation of the receptor binding domain, highlighting previously uncharacterized conformational differences between TGF-β isoforms. This study elucidates structural and functional nuances that distinguish TGF-β isoforms, providing insights into their distinct regulatory mechanisms. Cytokines and Chemokines and Their Receptors (CCR)

α-Latrotoxin (α-LTX) was found to form two-dimensional (2D) monolayer arrays in solution at relatively low concentrations (0.1 mg/mL), with the toxin tetramer constituting a unit cell. The crystals were imaged using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM), and image analysis yielded a ~12 Å projection map. At this resolution, no major conformational changes between the crystalline and solution states of α-LTX tetramers were observed. Electrophysiological studies showed that, under the conditions of crystallization, α-LTX simultaneously formed multiple channels in biological membranes that displayed coordinated gating. Two types of channels with conductance levels of 120 and 208 pS were identified. Furthermore, we observed two distinct tetramer conformations of tetramers both when observed as monodisperse single particles and within the 2D crystals, with pore diameters of 11 and 13.5 Å, suggestive of a flickering pore in the middle of the tetramer, which may correspond to the two states of toxin channels with different conductance levels. We discuss the structural changes that occur in α-LTX tetramers in solution and propose a mechanism of α-LTX insertion into the membrane. The propensity of α-LTX tetramers to form 2D crystals may explain many features of α-LTX toxicology and suggest that other pore-forming toxins may also form arrays of channels to exert maximal toxic effect.

In January 2020, a workshop was held at EMBL-EBI (Hinxton, UK) to discuss data requirements for the deposition and validation of cryoEM structures, with a focus on single-particle analysis. The meeting was attended by 47 experts in data processing, model building and refinement, validation, and archiving of such structures. This report describes the workshop's motivation and history, the topics discussed, and the resulting consensus recommendations. Some challenges for future methods-development efforts in this area are also highlighted, as is the implementation to date of some of the recommendations.

Ferritin is a multivalent, self-assembling protein scaffold found in most human cell types, in addition to being present in invertebrates, higher plants, fungi, and bacteria, that offers an attractive alternative to polymer-based drug delivery systems (DDS). In this study, the utility of the ferritin cage as a DDS was demonstrated within the context of T cell agonism for tumor killing. Members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) are attractive targets for the development of anticancer therapeutics. These receptors are endogenously activated by trimeric ligands that occur in transmembrane or soluble forms, and oligomerization and cell-surface anchoring have been shown to be essential aspects of the targeted agonism of this receptor class. Here, we demonstrated that the ferritin cage could be easily tailored for multivalent display of anti-OX40 antibody fragments on its surface and determined that these arrays are capable of pathway activation through cell-surface clustering. Together, these results confirm the utility, versatility, and developability of ferritin as a DDS.

High-resolution structures of proteins and protein complexes are critical to understanding molecular mechanisms of biological processes and in the discovery of therapeutic molecules. CryoEM has revolutionized structure determination of large proteins and their complexes, but a vast majority of proteins, including that underlie human diseases are small (<50 kDa) and usually beyond its reach due to low signal-to- noise images and difficulties in particle alignment. Previously reported solutions (structure chaperones), which directly bind to and increase the overall size of the particle are limited by inherent flexibility and not being bound to their targets in a rigid manner, resulting in the target being poorly resolved compared to the chaperones themselves. Here we present an iterative, structure-guided protein engineering using disulfides, of the Fab (Antibody fragment) scaffold, and present a solution that transforms the typically flexible Fab into a conformationally rigid scaffold with a distinctive shape, and maintains affinity to antigen. The designs are transferable across fabs from different species and chimeras. When bound to proteins even as small as 6–20 kDa, Rigid Fabs allow their structure determination to high resolutions of ∼2.3–2.5 Å for the protein of interest. Since a Fab can be discovered for practically any protein, our Rigid Fab design presents a general approach to overcome the target size limitation of single particle cryoEM.

The EMDataResource Ligand Model Challenge aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of modeling ligands bound to protein and protein/nucleic-acid complexes in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps determined at near-atomic (1.9-2.5 Å) resolution. Three published maps were selected as targets: E. coli beta-galactosidase with inhibitor, SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with covalently bound nucleotide analog, and SARS-CoV-2 ion channel ORF3a with bound lipid. Sixty-one models were submitted from 17 independent research groups, each with supporting workflow details. We found that (1) the quality of submitted ligand models and surrounding atoms varied, as judged by visual inspection and quantification of local map quality, model-to-map fit, geometry, energetics, and contact scores, and (2) a composite rather than a single score was needed to assess macromolecule+ligand model quality. These observations lead us to recommend best practices for assessing cryo-EM structures of liganded macromolecules reported at near-atomic resolution.

Lytic cell death culminates in plasma membrane rupture, which releases large intracellular molecules to augment the inflammatory response. Plasma membrane rupture is mediated by the effector membrane protein ninjurin-1 (NINJ1)(1), which polymerizes and ruptures the membrane via its hydrophilic face(1-4). How NINJ1 is restrained under steady-state conditions to ensure cell survival remains unknown. Here we describe the molecular underpinnings of NINJ1 inhibition. Using cryogenic electron microscopy, we determined the structure of inactive-state mouse NINJ1 bound to the newly developed nanobody Nb538. Inactive NINJ1 forms a face-to-face homodimer by adopting a three-helix conformation with unkinked transmembrane helix 1 (TM1), in contrast to the four-helix TM1-kinked active conformation(2-4). Accordingly, endogenous NINJ1 from primary macrophages is a dimer under steady-state conditions. Inactive dimers sequester the membrane rupture-inducing hydrophilic face of NINJ1 and occlude the binding site for kinked TM1 from neighbouring activated NINJ1 molecules. Mutagenesis studies in cells show that destabilization of inactive face-to-face dimers leads to NINJ1-mediated cell death, whereas stabilization of face-to-face dimers inhibits NINJ1 activity. Moreover, destabilizing mutations prompt spontaneous TM1 kink formation, a hallmark of NINJ1 activation. Collectively, our data demonstrate that dimeric NINJ1 is autoinhibited in trans to prevent unprovoked plasma membrane rupture and cell death.

The molecular heterogeneity of Tau is a critical contributor to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression and pathology. Currently, very little is known about the prevalence or impact of the diverse collection of Tau proteoforms. Additionally, individual proteoforms may have different interactions or frequencies within the broader proteome. Here, we detected and analyzed Tau proteoforms in the context of the broader proteome in model systems using a novel single-molecule proteomic analysis platform with future applicability in AD samples. We used a single-molecule proteomic analysis platform that leverages a set of target isoform specific and target PTM specific affinity reagents combined with novel instrumentation, single-molecule biochemistry, and machine learning bioinformatics to enable deep proteoform and broad proteome analysis. In this study, we first evaluated the proteoform distribution of Tau using commercially available antibody reagents. Proteoform heterogeneity was compared (specifically splicing and phosphorylation variants) in both healthy and diseased samples. Then, total protein counts were assessed across the proteome using Protein Identification by Short-epitope Mapping (PrISM), which leverages proprietary multi-affinity probes designed to recognize short epitopes and a machine learning algorithm that decodes binding of hundreds of multi-affinity probes into protein quantifications. The approach was evaluated by first measuring defined mixtures of recombinant Tau proteins. Next, we examined Tau enriched from induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons and tau-expressing cell lines. The platform revealed the molecular heterogeneity of Tau proteoforms missed by bulk measurements and peptide-centric proteomics approaches. The proteoform data was then supplemented with broader proteome analysis in order to identify proteome-wide changes – differences in proteins and pathways due to or in combination with specific Tau proteoforms and disease. Understanding the biology of complex diseases like AD and other Tauopathies depends on understanding both the specific Tau proteoforms that exist at baseline and in disease as well as the pathways and processes impacted in the proteome. Single-molecule tools that can analyze proteoforms in depth and the proteome broadly and link molecular signatures to disease states are essential. These tools will enable improved biomarkers, improved understanding of disease, and improved therapies for Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

The voltage-gated sodium (Na V ) channel Na V 1.7 has been identified as a potential novel analgesic target due to its involvement in human pain syndromes. However, clinically available Na V channel-blocking drugs are not selective among the nine Na V channel subtypes, Na V 1.1–Na V 1.9. Moreover, the two currently known classes of Na V 1.7 subtype-selective inhibitors (aryl- and acylsulfonamides) have undesirable characteristics that may limit their development. To this point understanding of the structure–activity relationships of the acylsulfonamide class of Na V 1.7 inhibitors, exemplified by the clinical development candidate GDC-0310 , has been based solely on a single co-crystal structure of an arylsulfonamide inhibitor bound to voltage-sensing domain 4 (VSD4). To advance inhibitor design targeting the Na V 1.7 channel, we pursued high-resolution ligand-bound Na V 1.7-VSD4 structures using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Here, we report that GDC-0310 engages the Na V 1.7-VSD4 through an unexpected binding mode orthogonal to the arylsulfonamide inhibitor class binding pose, which identifies a previously unknown ligand binding site in Na V channels. This finding enabled the design of a novel hybrid inhibitor series that bridges the aryl- and acylsulfonamide binding pockets and allows for the generation of molecules with substantially differentiated structures and properties. Overall, our study highlights the power of cryo-EM methods to pursue challenging drug targets using iterative and high-resolution structure-guided inhibitor design. This work also underscores an important role of the membrane bilayer in the optimization of selective Na V channel modulators targeting VSD4.

The trimeric serine protease HTRA1 is a genetic risk factor associated with geographic atrophy (GA), a currently untreatable form of age-related macular degeneration. Here, we describe the allosteric inhibition mechanism of HTRA1 by a clinical Fab fragment, currently being evaluated for GA treatment. Using cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography and biochemical assays we identify the exposed LoopA of HTRA1 as the sole Fab epitope, which is approximately 30 Å away from the active site. The cryo-EM structure of the HTRA1:Fab complex in combination with molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Fab binding to LoopA locks HTRA1 in a non-competent conformational state, incapable of supporting catalysis. Moreover, grafting the HTRA1-LoopA epitope onto HTRA2 and HTRA3 transferred the allosteric inhibition mechanism. This suggests a conserved conformational lock mechanism across the HTRA family and a critical role of LoopA for catalysis, which was supported by the reduced activity of HTRA1-3 upon LoopA deletion or perturbation. This study reveals the long-range inhibition mechanism of the clinical Fab and identifies an essential function of the exposed LoopA for activity of HTRA family proteases.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects the majority of the human population and represents the leading viral cause of congenital birth defects. HCMV utilizes the glycoproteins gHgLgO (Trimer) to bind to platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) and transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 (TGFβR3) to gain entry into multiple cell types. This complex is targeted by potent neutralizing antibodies and represents an important candidate for therapeutics against HCMV. Here, we determine three cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the trimer and the details of its interactions with four binding partners: the receptor proteins PDGFRα and TGFβR3 as well as two broadly neutralizing antibodies. Trimer binding to PDGFRα and TGFβR3 is mutually exclusive, suggesting that they function as independent entry receptors. In addition, Trimer-PDGFRα interaction has an inhibitory effect on PDGFRα signaling. Our results provide a framework for understanding HCMV receptor engagement, neutralization, and the development of anti-viral strategies against HCMV.