Functional analysis of proposed substrate-binding residues of Hsp104

Hsp104 is a hexameric AAA+ yeast disaggregase capable of solubilizing disordered aggregates and amyloid. Hsp104 couples ATP hydrolysis to polypeptide translocation through its central channel. Substrate binding by Hsp104 is mediated primarily by two conserved tyrosine residues in nucleotide binding domain (NBD) 1 and NBD2. Recent structural studies have revealed that an additional tyrosine residue (Y650) located in NBD2 appears to contact substrate and may play an important role in Hsp104 function. Here, we functionally analyze the properties of this proposed Hsp104 –substrate interaction. We find that Y650 is not essential for Hsp104 to confer thermotolerance. Supporting these findings, in a potentiated Hsp104 variant background, the Y650A mutation does not abolish potentiation. However, modulation of this site does have subtle effects on the activity of this potentiated Hsp104 variant. We therefore suggest that while Y650 is not essential for Hsp104 function, its modulation may be useful for fine-tuning Hsp104 properties.