Solution structure of water-soluble mutant of crambin and implication for protein solubility

Water-soluble mutant of intrinsically insoluble protein, crambin, was produced by mutagenesis based on the sequence analysis with homologous proteins. Thr1, Phe13, and Lys33 of crambin were substituted for Lys, Tyr, and Lys, respectively. The resultant mutant was soluble in aqueous buffer as well as in dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelle solution. The ¹H-¹⁵N spectrum of the mutant crambin showed spectral similarity to that of the wild-type protein except for local regions proximal to the sites of mutation. Solution structure of water-soluble mutant crambin was determined in aqueous buffer by NMR spectroscopy. The structure was almost identical to the wild-type structure determined in non-aqueous solvent. Subtle difference in structure was very local and related to the change of the intra-and inter-protein hydrophobic interaction of crambin. The structural details for the enhanced solubility of crambin in aqueous solvent by the mutation were provided and discussed.