An integrative structural biology analysis of von Willebrand factor binding and processing by ADAMTS-13 in solution

• Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is cleaved at a single site by peptidase ADAMTS-13
• We characterised the complex between a vWF-peptide and ADAMTS-13 by nine techniques
• The interaction conforms to a fuzzy complex that follows a dynamic zipper mechanism
• Many reversible, weak but additive interactions result in strong binding and cleavage

Von Willebrand Factor (vWF), a 300-kDa plasma protein key to homeostasis, is cleaved at a single site by multi-domain metallopeptidase ADAMTS-13. vWF is the only known substrate of this peptidase, which circulates in a latent form and becomes allosterically activated by substrate binding. Herein, we characterised the complex formed by a competent peptidase construct (AD13-MDTCS) comprising metallopeptidase (M), disintegrin-like (D), thrombospondin (T), cysteine-rich (C), and spacer (S) domains, with a 73-residue functionally relevant vWF-peptide, using nine complementary techniques. Pull-down assays, gel electrophoresis, and surface plasmon resonance revealed tight binding with sub-micromolar affinity. Cross-linking mass spectrometry with four reagents showed that, within the peptidase, domain D approaches M, C, and S. S is positioned close to M and C, and the peptide contacts all domains. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry revealed strong and weak protection for C/D and M/S, respectively. Structural analysis by multi-angle laser light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering in solution revealed that the enzyme adopted highly flexible unbound, latent structures and peptide-bound, active structures that differed from the AD13-MDTCS crystal structure. Moreover, the peptide behaved like a self-avoiding random chain. We integrated the results with computational approaches, derived an ensemble of structures that collectively satisfied all experimental restraints, and discussed the functional implications. The interaction conforms to a ‘fuzzy complex’ that follows a ‘dynamic zipper’ mechanism involving numerous reversible, weak but additive interactions that result in strong binding and cleavage. Our findings contribute to illuminating the biochemistry of the vWF:ADAMTS-13 axis.

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Reference:

An integrative structural biology analysis of von Willebrand factor binding and processing by ADAMTS-13 in solution.

L. del Amo-Maestro, A. Sagar, P. Pompach, T. Goulas, C. Scavenius, D.S. Ferrero, M. Castrillo-Briceño, M. Taulés, J.J. Enghild, P. Bernadó & F.X. Gomis-Rüth.

J. Mol. Biol., in press.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166954