The alpha-helix of ribonuclease T1 as an independent stability unit: direct comparison of peptide and protein stability.

Measurements of the change in conformational stability, delta(delta G), upon mutation of two acidic residues at the C terminus of the helix of ribonuclease T1 have recently been reported. Here, we investigate peptides based on the sequence of the helix with the same mutations: Glu28 replaced with Gln, Asp29 replaced with Asn, and the double mutant. In addition, the mutant Lys25 to Gln was studied. Changes in helix content of the peptides with pH confirm the conclusion found in the intact protein, that the charged forms of the acidic residues destabilize the protein by destabilizing the helix. The pH-dependence of the change in conformational free energy for the peptides and mutant proteins show fair correspondence for D29N and the double mutant. The mutants E28Q and K25Q, on the other hand, give striking agreement between the protein and peptide systems. This agreement suggests that the helix of ribonuclease T1 behaves as an independently stabilized structural unit of the intact protein and that stabilization of the helical form of the peptide is mirrored in the protein.