Solution structure and topology of the N-terminal membrane anchor domain of a microsomal cytochrome P450: prostaglandin I2 synthase

The three-dimensional structure of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal membrane anchor domain (residues 1-25) of prostaglandin I(2) synthase (also known as cytochrome P450 8A1), an eicosanoid-synthesizing microsomal cytochrome P450, has been determined by two-dimensional (1)H NMR spectroscopy in trifluoroethanol and dodecylphosphocholine which mimic the hydrophobic membrane environment. A combination of two-dimensional NMR experiments, including NOESY, TOCSY and double-quantum-filtered COSY, was used to obtain complete (1)H NMR assignments for the peptide. Using the NOE data obtained from the assignments and simulated annealing calculations, the N-terminal membrane domain reveals a bent-shaped structure comprised of an initial helix (residues 3-11), followed by a turn (residues 12-16) and a further atypical helix (residues 17-23). The hydrophobic side chains of the helix and turn segments (residues 1-20) are proposed to interact with the hydrocarbon interior of the phospholipid bilayer of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. The hydrophilic side chains of residues 21-25 (Arg-Arg-Arg-Thr-Arg) point away from the hydrophobic residues 1-20 and are expected to be exposed to the aqueous environment on the cytoplasmic side of the ER membrane. The distance between residues 1 and 20 is approx. 20 A (1 A=0.1 nm), less than the thickness of a lipid bilayer. This indicates that the N-terminal membrane anchor domain of prostaglandin I(2) synthase does not penetrate the ER membrane.