The link between many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and the aberrant folding and aggregation of proteins has prompted a comprehensive search for small organic molecules that have the potential to inhibit such processes. Although many compounds have been reported to affect the formation of amyloid fibrils and/or other types of protein aggregates, the mechanisms by which they act are not well understood. A large number of compounds appear to act in a nonspecific way affecting several different amyloidogenic proteins. We describe here a detailed study of the mechanism of action of one representative compound, lacmoid, in the context of the inhibition of the aggregation of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) associated with Alzheimer's disease. We show that lacmoid binds Aβ(1-40) in a surfactant-like manner and counteracts the formation of all types of Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42) aggregates. On the basis of these and previous findings, we are able to rationalize the molecular mechanisms of action of nonspecific modulators of protein self-assembly in terms of hydrophobic attraction and the conformational preferences of the polypeptide.
Repositioning of the tandem aromatic residues (Trp-209 and Tyr-210) at the cytoplasmic end of the second transmembrane helix (TM2) modulates the signal output of the aspartate/maltose chemoreceptor of Escherichia coli (Tar(Ec)). Here, we directly assessed the effect of the residue composition of the aromatic anchor by studying the function of a library of Tar(Ec) variants that possess all possible combinations of Ala, Phe, Tyr, and Trp at positions 209 and 210. We identified three important properties of the aromatic anchor. First, a Trp residue at position 209 was required to maintain clockwise (CW) signal output in the absence of adaptive methylation, but adaptive methylation restored the ability of all of the mutant receptors to generate CW rotation. Second, when the aromatic anchor was replaced with tandem Ala residues, signaling was less compromised than when an Ala residue occupied position 209 and an aromatic residue occupied position 210. Finally, when Trp was: present at position 209, the identity of the residue at position 210 had little effect on baseline signal output or aspartate chemotaxis, although maltose taxis was significantly affected by some substitutions at position 210. All of the mutant receptors we constructed supported some level of aspartate and maltose taxis in semisolid agar swim plates, but those without Trp at position 209 were overmethylated in their baseline signaling state. These results show the importance of the cytoplasmic aromatic anchor of TM2 in maintaining the baseline Tar(Ec) signal output and responsiveness to attractant signaling.
Baseline signal output and communication between the periplasmic and cytoplasmic domains of the Escherichia colt aspartate chemoreceptor Tar(Ec) are both strongly influenced by residues at the C-terminus of transmembrane helix 2 (TM2). In particular, the cytoplasmic aromatic anchor, composed of residues Trp-209 and Tyr-210 in wild type Tar(Ec) is important for determining the CheA kinase-stimulating activity of the receptor and its ability to respond to chemoeffector-induced stimuli. Here, we have studied the effect on Tar(Ec) function of the six residue sequence at positions 207-212 Moving various combinations of aromatic residues among these positions generates substantial changes M receptor activity. Trp has the largest effect on function, both in maintaining normal activity and in altering activity when it is moved. Tyr has a weaker effect, and Phe has the weakest; however, all three aromatic residues can alter signal output when they are placed in novel positions. We also find that Gly-211 plays an important role in receptor function, perhaps because of the flexibility it introduces into the TM2-HAMP domain connector. The conservation of this Gly residue in the high-abundance chemoreceptors of E. coli and Salmonella enterica suggests that it may be important for the nuanced, bidirectional transmembrane signaling that occurs in these proteins.
Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalyzes the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides. The active enzyme contains a diiron center and a tyrosyl free radical required for enzyme activity. The radical is located at Y177 in the R2 protein of mouse RNR. The radical is formed concomitantly with the μ-oxo-bridged diferric center in a reconstitution reaction between ferrous iron and molecular oxygen in the protein. EPR at 9.6 and 285 GHz was used to investigate the reconstitution reaction in the double-mutant Y177F/I263C of mouse protein R2. The aim was to produce a protein-linked radical derived from the Cys residue in the mutant protein to investigate its formation and characteristics. The mutation Y177F hinders normal radical formation at Y177, and the I263C mutation places a Cys residue at the same distance from the iron center as Y177 in the native protein. In the reconstitution reaction, we observed small amounts of a transient radical with a probable assignment to a peroxy radical, followed by a stable sulfinyl radical, most likely located on C263. The unusual radical stability may be explained by the hydrophobic surroundings of C263, which resemble the hydrophobic pocket surrounding Y177 in native protein R2. The observation of a sulfinyl radical in RNR strengthens the relationship between RNR and another free radical enzyme, pyruvate formate-lyase, where a similar relatively stable sulfinyl radical has been observed in a mutant. Sulfinyl radicals may possibly be considered as stabilized forms of very short-lived thiyl radicals, proposed to be important intermediates in the radical chemistry of RNR.
Certain membrane proteins involved in lipid synthesis can induce formation of new intracellular membranes in Escherichia coli, i.e., intracellular vesicles. Among those, the foreign monotopic glycosyltransferase MGS from Acholeplasma laidlawii triggers such massive lipid synthesis when overexpressed. To examine the mechanism behind the increased lipid synthesis, we investigated the lipid binding properties of MGS in vivo together with the correlation between lipid synthesis and MGS overexpression levels. A good correlation between produced lipid quantities and overexpressed MGS protein was observed when standard LB medium was supplemented with four different lipid precursors that have significant roles in the lipid biosynthesis pathway. Interestingly, this correlation was highest concerning anionic lipid production and at the same time dependent on the selective binding of anionic lipid molecules by MGS. A selective interaction with anionic lipids was also observed in vitro by P-31 NMR binding studies using bicelles prepared with E. coli lipids. The results clearly demonstrate that the discriminative withdrawal of anionic lipids, especially phosphatidylglycerol, from the membrane through MGS binding triggers an in vivo signal for cells to create a feed-forward stimulation of lipid synthesis in E. coil. By this mechanism, cells can produce more membrane surface in order to accommodate excessively produced MGS molecules, which results in an interdependent cycle of lipid and MGS protein synthesis.
The membrane interaction properties of two single-residue variants, R6W and L5S, of the 17-amino acid neuropeptide dynorphin A (DynA) were studied by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Corresponding gene mutations have recently been discovered in humans and causatively linked to a neurodegenerative disorder. The peptides were investigated in buffer and in isotropic solutions of q = 0.3 bicelles with 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) or DMPC (0.8) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho(1'-rac-glycerol) (DMPG) (0.2). The CD results and the NMR secondary chemical shifts show that R6W-DynA has a small a-helical fraction in buffer, which increases in the presence of bicelles, while L5S-DynA is mainly unstructured under all conditions studied here. R6W-DynA has an almost complete association with zwitterionic bicelles (similar to 90%, as probed by NMR diffusion experiments), similar to the behavior of wtDynA, while L5S-DynA has a weaker association (similar to 50%). For all peptides, the level of bicelle association is increased in negatively charged bicelles. The L5A-DynA peptide adopts a very shallow position in the headgroup region of the bicelle bilayer, as studied by paramagnetic spin relaxation enhancement experiments using paramagnetic probes. Similarly, the results show that R6W-DynA is more deeply buried in the bilayer, with only the C-terminal residues exposed to solvent, again more similar to the case of wild-type DynA. We suggest that the results presented here may explain the differences in cell toxicity of these disease-related neuropeptide variants.
The outer leaflet of the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria contains lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as a major component, and the outer membrane provides a physical barrier and protection against hostile environments. The enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli of serogroup O91 has an O-antigen polysaccharide (PS) with five sugar residues in the repeating unit (RU), and the herein studied O-antigen PS contains similar to 10 RUs. H-1-C-13 HSQC-NOESY experiments on a 1-C-13-labeled PS were employed to deduce H-1-H-1 cross-relaxation rates and transglycosidic (3)J(CH) related to the psi torsional angles were obtained by H-1-H-1 NOESY experiments. Dynamical parameters were calculated from the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the PS in solution and compared to those from C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation studies. Importantly, the MD simulations can reproduce the dynamical behavior of internal correlation times along the PS chain. Two-dimensional free energy surfaces of glycosidic torsion angles delineate the conformational space available to the O-antigen. Although similar with respect to populated states in solution, the O-antigen in LPS bilayers has more extended chains as a result of spatial limitations due to close packing. Calcium ions are highly abundant in the phosphate-containing core region mediating LPS LPS association that is crucial for maintaining bilayer integrity, and the negatively charged O-antigen promotes a high concentration of counterbalancing potassium ions. The ensemble of structures present for the PS in solution is captured by the NMR experiments, and the similarities between the O-antigen on its own and as a constituent of the full LPS in a bilayer environment make it possible to realistically describe the LPS conformation and dynamics from the MD simulations.
Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is the terminal enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain, reducing molecular oxygen to water. The binuclear active site in CcO comprises a high-spin heme associated with a Cu-B complex and a redox active tyrosine. The electron transport in the respiratory chain is driven by increasing midpoint potentials of the involved cofactors, resulting in a release of free energy, which is stored by coupling the electron transfer to proton translocation across a membrane, building up an electrochemical gradient. In this context, the midpoint potentials of the active site cofactors in the CcOs are of special interest, since they determine the driving forces for the individual oxygen reduction steps and thereby affect the efficiency of the proton pumping. It has been difficult to obtain useful information on some of these midpoint potentials from experiments. However, since each of the reduction steps in the catalytic cycle of oxygen reduction to water corresponds to the formation of an O-H bond, they can be calculated with a reasonably high accuracy using quantum chemical methods. From the calculated O-H bond strengths, the proton-coupled midpoint potentials of the active site cofactors can be estimated. Using models representing the different families of CcO's (A, B, and C), the calculations give midpoint potentials that should be relevant during catalytic turnover. The calculations also suggest possible explanations for why some experimentally measured potentials deviate significantly from the calculated ones, i.e., for Cu-B in all oxidase families, and for heme b(3) in the C family.
As part of microbial denitrification, NO is reduced to N2O in the membrane bound enzyme nitric oxide reductase, NOR The N N coupling occurs in the diiron binuclear active site, BNC, and different mechanisms for this reaction step have been suggested. Computational studies have supported a so-called cis:b(3)-mechanism, in which the hyponitrite product of the reductive N N bond formation coordinates with one nitrogen to the heme iron and with both oxygens to the non-heme iron in the BNC. In contrast, experimental results have been interpreted to support a so-called trans-mechanism, in which the hyponitrite intermediate coordinates with one nitrogen atom to each of the two iron ions. Hybrid density functional theory is used here to perform an extensive search for possible intermediates of the NO reduction in the cNOR enzyme. It is found that hyponitrite structures coordinating with their negatively charged oxygens to the positively charged iron ions are the most stable ones. The hyponitrite intermediate involved in the suggested trans-mechanism, which only coordinates with the nitrogens to the iron ions, is found to be prohibitively high in energy, leading to a too slow reaction, which should rule out this mechanism. Furthermore, intermediates binding one NO molecule to each iron ion in the BNC, which have been suggested to initiate the trans-mechanism, are found to be too high in energy to be observable, indicating that the experimentally observed electron paramagnetic resonance signals, taken to support such an iron-nitrosyl dimer intermediate, should be reinterpreted.
Cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme in the respiratory chain, reduces molecular oxygen to water and stores the released energy through electrogenic chemistry and proton pumping across the membrane. Apart from the heme-copper binuclear center, there is a conserved tyrosine residue in the active site (BNC). The tyrosine delivers both an electron and a proton during the O-O bond cleavage step, forming a tyrosyl radical. The catalytic cycle then occurs in four reduction steps, each taking up one proton for the chemistry (water formation) and one proton to be pumped. It is here suggested that in three of the reduction steps the chemical proton enters the center of the BNC, leaving the tyrosine unprotonated with radical character. The reproprotonation of the tyrosine occurs first in the final reduction step before binding the next oxygen molecule. It is also suggested that this reduction mechanism and the presence of the tyrosine are essential for the proton pumping. Density functional theory calculations on large cluster models of the active site show that only the intermediates with the proton in the center of the BNC and with an unprotonated tyrosyl radical have a high electron affinity of similar size as the electron donor, which is essential for the ability to take up two protons per electron and thus for the proton pumping. This type of reduction mechanism is also the only one that gives a free energy profile in accordance with experimental observations for the amount of proton pumping in the working enzyme.
The catalytic mechanism of reduction of NO to N2O in the bacterial enzyme nitric oxide reductase has been investigated using hybrid density functional theory and a model of the binuclear center (BNC) based on the newly determined crystal structure. The calculations strongly suggest a so-called cis:b(3) mechanism, while the commonly suggested trans mechanism is found to be energetically unfavorable. The mechanism suggested here involves a stable cis-hyponitrite, and it is shown that from this intermediate one N-O bond can be cleaved without the transfer of a proton or an electron into the binuclear active site, in agreement with experimental observations. The fully oxidized intermediate in the catalytic cycle and the resting form of the enzyme are suggested to have an oxo-bridged BNC with two high-spin ferric irons antiferromagnetically coupled. Both steps of reduction of the BNC after N2O formation are found to be pH-dependent, also in agreement with experiment. Finally, it is found that the oxo bridge in the oxidized BNC can react with NO to give nitrite, which explains the experimental observations that the fully oxidized enzyme reacts with NO, and most likely also the observed substrate inhibition at higher NO concentrations.
Cytochrome c oxidase is the terminal electron acceptor in the respiratory chains of aerobic organisms and energetically couples' the reduction of oxygen to water to proton pumping across the membrane. The mechanisms of proton uptake, gating, and pumping have yet to be completely elucidated at the molecular level for these enzymes. For Rhodobacter sphaeroides CytcO (cytochrome aa<sub>3</sub>), it appears as though the E286 side chain of subunit I is a branching point from which protons are shuttled either to the catalytic site for O<sub>2</sub> reduction or to the acceptor site for pumped protons. Amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry was used to investigate how mutation of this key branching residue to histidine (E286H) affects the structures and dynamics of four redox intermediate states. A functional characterization of this mutant reveals that E286H CytcO retains ∼1% steady-state activity that is uncoupled from proton pumping and that proton transfer from H286 is significantly slowed. Backbone amide H-D exchange kinetics indicates that specific regions of CytcO, perturbed by the E286H mutation, are likely to be involved in proton gating and in the exit pathway for pumped protons. The results indicate that redox-dependent conformational changes around E286 are essential for internal proton transfer. E286H CytcO, however, is incapable of these specific conformational changes and therefore is insensitive to the redox state of the enzyme. These data support a model where the side chain conformation of E286 controls proton translocation in CytcO through its interactions with the proton gate, which directs the flow of protons either to the active site or to the exit pathway. In the E286H mutant, the proton gate does not function properly and the exit channel is unresponsive. These results provide new insight into the structure and mechanism of proton transtocation by CytcO.
Canfosfamide (TLK286, TELCYTA) is a prodrug that upon activation by glutathione transferase P1-1 (GST P1-1) yields an anticancer alkylating agent and a glutathione derivative. The rationale underlying the use of TLK286 in chemotherapy is that tumor cells overexpressing GST P1-1 will be locally exposed to the released alkylating agent with limited collateral toxicity to the surrounding normal tissues. TLK286 has demonstrated clinical effects in phase II and III clinical trials for the treatment of malignancies, such as ovarian cancer, nonsmall cell lung cancer, and breast cancer, as a single agent and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. In spite of these promising results, the detailed mechanism of GST P1-1 activation of the prodrug has not been elucidated. Here, we propose a mechanism for the TLK286 activation by GST P1-1 on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) and on potential of mean force (PMF) calculations. A catalytic water molecule is instrumental to the activation by forming a network of intermolecular interactions between the active-site Tyr7 hydroxyl and the sulfone and COO- groups of TLK286. The results obtained are consistent with the available experimental kinetic data and provide an atomistic understanding of the TLK286 activation mechanism.
The physiological roles of immunophilins are unclear, but many possess peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase) activity, and they have been found in all organisms examined to date, implying that they are involved in fundamental, protein-folding processes. The chloroplast thylakoid lumen of the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana contains up to 16 immunophilins (five cyclophilins and 11 FKBPs), but only two of them, AtCYP20-2 and AtFKBP13, have been found to be active PPIases, indicating that the other immunophilins in this cellular compartment may have lost their putative PPIase activities. To assess this possibility, we characterized two independent Arabidopsis knockout lines lacking AtCYP20-2 in enzymological and quantitative proteomic analyses. The PPIase activity in thylakoid lumen preparations of both mutants was equal to that of corresponding wild-type preparations, and comparative two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis analyses of the lumenal proteins of the mutants and wild type showed that none of the potential PPIases was more abundant in the AtCYP20-2 deficient plants. Enzymatic analyses established that all PPIase activity in the mutant thylakoid lumen was attributable to AtFKBP13, and oxidative activation of this enzyme compensated for the lack of AtCYP20-2. Accordingly, sequence analyses of the potential catalytic domains of lumenal cyclophilins and FKBPs demonstrated that only AtCYP20-2 and AtFKBP13 possess all of the amino acid residues found to be essential for PPIase activity in earlier studies of human cyclophilin A and FKBP12. Thus, none of the immunophilins in the chloroplast thylakoid lumen of Arabidopsis except AtCYP20-2 and AtFKBP13 appear to possess prolyl isomerase activity toward peptide substrates.
pH-sensitive HA2 fusion peptides from influenza virus hemagglutinin have potential as endosomal escape-inducing components in peptide-based drug delivery. Polarized light spectroscopy and tryptophan fluorescence were used to assess the conformation, orientation, effect on lipid order, and binding kinetics of wild-type peptide HA 1-23) and a glutamic acid-enriched analogue (INF7) in large unilamellar POPC or POPC/POPG (4:1) lipid vesicles (LUVs). pH-sensitive membrane leakage was established for INF7 but not HA2(1-23) using an entrapped-dye assay. A correlation is indicated between leakage and a low degree of lipid chain order (assessed by linear dichroism, LD, of the membrane orientation probe retinoic acid). Both peptides display poor alignment in zwitterionic POPC LUVs compared to POPC/POPG (4:1) LUVs, and it was found that peptide-lipid interactions display slow kinetics (hours), resulting in reduced lipid order and increased tryptophan shielding. At pH 7.4, INF7 displays tryptophan emission and LD features indicative of a surface-orientated peptide, suggesting that its N-terminal glutamic acid residues prevent deep penetration into the hydrocarbon core. At pH 5.0, INF7 displays weaker LD signals, indicating poor orientation, possibly due to aggregation. By contrast, the orientation of the HA2(1-23) peptide backbone supports previously reported oblique insertion (∼60-65° relative to the membrane normal), and aromatic side-chain orientations are consistent with an interfacial (pH-independent) location of the C-terminus. We propose that a conformational change upon reduction of pH is limited to minor rearrangements of the peptide "hinge region" around Trp14 and repositioning of this residue
Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) catalyze the reduction of ribonucleotides to the corresponding deoxyribonucleotides. The catalytic activity of most RNRs depends on the formation of a dimer of the catalytic subunits. The active site is located at the interface, and part of the substrate binding site and regulatory mechanisms work across the subunit in the dimer. In this study, we describe and characterize a novel domain responsible for forming the catalytic dimer in several class II RNRs. The 3D structure of the class II RNR from Rhodobacter sphaeroides reveals a so far undescribed α-helical domain in the dimer interface, which is embracing the other subunit. Genetic removal of this HUG domain leads to a severe reduction of activity paired with reduced dimerization capability. In comparison with other described RNRs, the enzyme with this domain is less dependent on the presence of nucleotides to act as allosteric effectors in the formation of dimers. The HUG domain appears to serve as an interlock to keep the dimer intact and functional even at low enzyme and/or effector concentrations.
Galactolipids are characteristic lipids of the photosynthetic membranes. They are highly enriched in the chloroplast and are present in photosystem structures. There are two major types of galactolipids, i.e., monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) in chloroplastic membranes, which amount to similar to 50 and similar to 20 mol % of the total chloroplast lipids, respectively. Under phosphate-limiting conditions, the amount of DGDG increases dramatically for rescuing phosphate from phospholipids. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the gene digalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase 2 (DGD2) encodes a membrane-associated glycosyltransferase. The gene expression is highly responsive to phosphate starvation and is significantly upregulated in this case. To understand the molecular mechanism of DGD2, we established a protocol for DGD2 expression and purification in an Escherichia coli-based system. The work involved optimization of the expression condition and the purification protocol and a careful selection of buffer additives. It was found that a removal of around 70 C-terminal residues was necessary to produce a homogeneous monomeric protein sample with high purity, which was highly active. The purified sample was characterized by an activity assay for enzyme kinetics in which a range of membrane mimetics with different lipid compositions were used. The results demonstrate that DGD2 activity is stimulated by the presence of negatively charged lipids, which highlight the importance of the membrane environment in modulating the enzyme's activity. The study also paves way for future biophysical and structural studies of the enzyme.
Misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is associated with the development of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Metal ions appear to play a crucial role in PrPC misfolding. PrPC is a combined Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal-binding protein, where the main metal-binding site is located in the octarepeat (OR) region. Thus, the biological function of PrPC may involve the transport of divalent metal ions across membranes or buffering concentrations of divalent metal ions in the synaptic cleft. Recent studies have shown that an excess of Cu(II) ions can result in PrPC instability, oligomerization, and/or neuroinflammation. Here, we have used biophysical methods to characterize Cu(II) and Zn(II) binding to the isolated OR region of PrPC. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy data suggest that the OR domain binds up to four Cu(II) ions or two Zn(II) ions. Binding of the first metal ion results in a structural transition from the polyproline II helix to the β-turn structure, while the binding of additional metal ions induces the formation of β-sheet structures. Fluorescence spectroscopy data indicate that the OR region can bind both Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions at neutral pH, but under acidic conditions, it binds only Cu(II) ions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that binding of either metal ion to the OR region results in the formation of β-hairpin structures. As the formation of β-sheet structures can be a first step toward amyloid formation, we propose that high concentrations of either Cu(II) or Zn(II) ions may have a pro-amyloid effect in TSE diseases.
Arabidopsis thaliana NUDT1 (AtNUDT1) belongs to the Nudix family of proteins, which have a diverse range of substrates, including oxidized nucleotides such as 8-oxo-dGTP. The hydrolysis of oxidized dNTPs is highly important as it prevents their incorporation into DNA, thus preventing mutations and DNA damage. AtNUDT1 is the sole Nudix enzyme from A. thaliana shown to have activity against 8-oxo-dGTP. We present the structure of AtNUDT1 in complex with 8-oxo-dGTP. Structural comparison with bacterial and human homologues reveals a conserved overall fold. Analysis of the 8-oxo-dGTP binding mode shows that the residues Asn76 and Ser89 interact with the 08 atom of the substrate, a feature not observed in structures of protein homologues solved to date. Kinetic analysis of wild-type and mutant AtNUDT1 confirmed that these active site residues influence 8-oxo-dGTP hydrolysis. A recent study showed that AtNUDT1 is also able to hydrolyze terpene compounds. The diversity of reactions catalyzed by AtNUDT1 suggests that this Nudix enzyme from higher plants has evolved in a manner distinct to those from other organisms.
Cytochrome c oxidase (CytcO) is a membrane-bound enzyme that links electron transfer from cytochrome c to O-2 to proton pumping across the membrane. Protons are transferred through specific pathways that connect the protein surface with the catalytic site as well as the proton input with the proton output sides. Results from earlier studies have shown that one site within the so-called D proton pathway, Asn139, located similar to 10 angstrom from the protein surface, is particularly sensitive to mutations that uncouple the O-2 reduction reaction from the proton pumping activity. For example, none of the Asn139Asp (charged) or Asn139Thr (neutral) mutant CytcOs pump protons, although the proton-uptake rates are unaffected. Here, we have investigated the Asn139Cys and Asn139Cys/Asp132Asn mutant CytcOs. In contrast to other structural variants investigated to date, the Cys side chain may be either neutral or negatively charged in the experimentally accessible pH range. The data show that the Asn139Cys and Asn139Asp mutations result in the same changes of the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters associated with the proton transfer. The similarity is not due to introduction of charge at position 139, but rather introduction of a protonatable group that modulates the proton connectivity around this position. These results illuminate the mechanism by which CytcO couples electron transfer to proton pumping.
The Cpx stress response system is induced by various environmental and cellular stimuli. It is also activated in Escherichia coli strains lacking the major phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). However, it is not known whether CpxA directly senses changes in the lipid bilayer or the presence of misfolded proteins due to the lack of PE in their membranes. To address this question, we used an in vitro reconstitution system and vesicles with different lipid compositions to track modulations in the activity of CpxA in different lipid bilayers. Moreover, the Cpx response was validated in vivo by monitoring expression of a PcpxP-gfp reporter in lipid-engineered strains of E. coli. Our combined data indicate that CpxA responds specifically to different lipid compositions.
The Pho84 high-affinity phosphate permease is the primary phosphate transporter in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under phosphate-limiting conditions. The soluble G protein, Gtr1, has previously been suggested to be involved in the derepressible Pho84 phosphate uptake function. This idea was based on a displayed deletion phenotype of Δgtr1 similar to the Δpho84 phenotype. As of yet, the mode of interaction has not been described. The consequences of a deletion of gtr1 on in vivo Pho84 expression, trafficking and activity, and extracellular phosphatase activity were analyzed in strains synthesizing either Pho84−green fluorescent protein or Pho84−myc chimeras. The studies revealed a delayed response in Pho84-mediated phosphate uptake and extracellular phosphatase activity under phosphate-limiting conditions. EPR spectroscopic studies verified that the N-terminal G binding domain (residues 1−185) harbors the nucleotide responsive elements. In contrast, the spectra obtained for the C-terminal part (residues 186−310) displayed no evidence of conformational changes upon GTP addition.
Accumulating evidence links prefibrillar oligomeric species of the amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) to cellular toxicity in Alzheimer's disease, potentially via disruption of biological membranes. Congo red (CR) affects protein aggregation. It is known to self-associate into micelle-like assemblies but still reduces the toxicity of Abeta aggregates in cell cultures and model organisms. We show here that CR interacts with Abeta(1-40) in a manner similar to that of anionic detergents. Although CR promotes beta sheet formation and peptide aggregation, it may also solubilize toxic protein species, making them less harmful to critical cellular components and thereby reducing amyloid toxicity.
Cytochrome c oxidase couples electron transfer from cytochrome C to 02 to proton pumping across the membrane. In the initial part of the reaction of the reduced cytochrome c oxidase with 02, an electron is transferred from heme a to the catalytic site, parallel to the membrane surface. Even though this electron transfer is not linked to proton uptake from solution, recently Belevich et al. [(2006) Nature 440, 829] showed that it is linked to transfer of charge perpendicular to the membrane surface (electrogenic reaction). This electrogenic reaction was attributed to internal transfer of a proton from Glu286, in the D proton pathway, to an unidentified protonatable site "above" the heme groups. The proton transfer was proposed to initiate the sequence of events leading to proton pumping. In this study, we have investigated electrogenic reactions in structural variants of cytochrome c oxidase in which residues in the second, K proton pathway of cytochrome c oxidase were modified. The results indicate that the electrogenic reaction linked to electron transfer to the catalytic site originates from charge transfer within the K pathway, which presumably facilitates reduction of the site.
The reaction mechanism of mycolic acid cyclopropane synthase is investigated using hybrid density functional theory. The direct methylation mechanism is examined with a large model of the active site constructed on the basis of the crystal structure of the native enzyme. The important active site residue Glu140 is modeled in both ionized and neutral forms. We demonstrate that the reaction starts via the transfer of a methyl to the substrate double bond, followed by the transfer of a proton from the methyl cation to the bicarbonate present in the active site. The first step is calculated to be rate-limiting, in agreement with experimental kinetic results. The protonation state of Glu140 has a rather weak influence on the reaction energetics. In addition to the natural reaction, a possible side reaction, namely a carbocation rearrangement, is also considered and is shown to have a low barrier. Finally, the energetics for the sulfur ylide proposal, which has already been ruled out, is also estimated, showing a large energetic penalty for ylide formation.
The mechanism for H-2 cleavage in NiFe-hydrogenase has been reinvestigated with large models using both hybrid DFT by itself, or in a QM/MM scheme following the ONIOM approach. Heterolytic cleavage, with one hydrogen ending up as a bridging hydride and one as a proton on a cysteine ligand, was found to have a barrier slightly too high to be compatible with measured catalytic turnover rates. Alternative mechanisms were therefore investigated. In the finally suggested mechanism, heterolytic cleavage is used only as an initial step to generate a complex with nickel in oxidation state Ni(I). In the following cycles, H-2 is instead cleaved on nickel using an oxidative addition mechanism with a lower barrier. It was found that the ONIOM results for the reaction mechanism in NiFe-hydrogenase needed to be corrected by large model DFT results to be more reliable. This was mainly an effect of overestimation of polarization effects of the QM region by the MM region due to the particular treatment of the electrostatic interactions and the use of a standard (nonpolarizable) force field.
In the prokaryote Acholeplasma laidlawii, membrane bilayer properties are sensed and regulated by two interface glycosyltransferases (GTs), synthesizing major nonbilayer- (alMGS GT) and bilayer-prone glucolipids. These enzymes are of similar structure, as many soluble GTs, but are sensitive to lipid charge and curvature stress properties. Multivariate and bioinformatic sequence analyses show that such interface enzymes, in relation to soluble ones of similar fold, are characterized by high cationic charge, certain distances between small and cationic amino acids, and by amphipathic helices. Varying surface contents of Lys/Arg pairs and Trp indicate different membrane-binding subclasses. A predicted potential (cationic) binding helix from alMGS was structurally verified by solution NMR and CD. The helix conformation was induced by a zwitterionic as well as anionic lipid environment, and the peptide was confined to the bilayer interface. Bilayer affinity of the peptide, analyzed by surface plasmon resonance, was higher than that for soluble membrane-seeking proteins/peptides and rose with anionic lipid content. Interface intercalation was supported by phase equilibria in membrane lipid mixtures, analyzed by 31P NMR and DSC. An analogous, potentially binding helix has a similar location in the structurally determined Escherichia coli cell wall precursor GT MurG. These two helices have little sequence conservation in alMGS and MurG homologues but maintain their amphipathic character. The evolutionary modification of the alMGS binding helix and its location close to the acceptor substrate site imply a functional importance in enzyme catalysis, potentially providing a mechanism by which glycolipid synthesis will be sensitive to membrane surface charge and intrinsic curvature strain.
A significant fraction of the eukaryotic proteome consists of proteins that are either partially or completely disordered under native-like conditions. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are common in protein protein interactions and are involved in numerous cellular processes. Although many proteins have been identified as disordered, much less is known about the binding mechanisms of the coupled binding and folding reactions involving IDPs. Here we have analyzed the rate-limiting transition state for binding between the TAZ1 domain of CREB binding protein and the intrinsically disordered transactivation domain of STAT2 (TAD-STAT2) by site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic experiments (Phi-value analysis) and found that the native protein protein binding interface is not formed at the transition state for binding. Instead, native hydrophobic binding interactions form late, after the rate-limiting barrier has been crossed. The association rate constant in the absence of electrostatic enhancement was determined to be rather high. This is consistent with the (Phi-value analysis, which showed that there are few or no obligatory native contacts. Also, linear free energy relationships clearly demonstrate that native interactions are cooperatively formed, a scenario that has usually been observed for proteins that fold according to the so-called nucleation condensation mechanism. Thus, native hydrophobic binding interactions at the rate limiting transition state for association between TAD-STAT2 and TAZ1 are not a requirement, which is generally in agreement with previous findings on other IDP systems and might be a common mechanism for IDPs.
The very-long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase FadD13 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis activates fatty acids for further use in mycobacterial lipid metabolism. FadD13 is a peripheral membrane protein, with both soluble and membrane-bound populations in vivo. The protein displays a distinct positively charged surface patch, suggested to be involved in membrane association. In this paper, we combine structural analysis with liposome co-flotation assays and membrane association modeling to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind membrane association. We show that FadD13 has affinity for negatively charged lipids, such as cardiolipin. Addition of a fatty acid substrate to the liposomes increases the apparent affinity of FadD13, consistent with our previous hypothesis that FadD13 can utilize the membrane to harbor its very-long-chain fatty acyl substrates. In addition, we unambiguously show that FadD13 adopts a dimeric arrangement in solution. The dimer interface partly buries the positive surface patch, seemingly inconsistent with membrane binding. Notably, when cross-linking the dimer, it lost its ability to bind and co-migrate with liposomes. To better understand the dynamics of association, we utilized two mutant variants of FadD13, one in which the positively charged patch was altered to become more negative and one more hydrophobic. Both variants were predominantly monomeric in solution. The hydrophobic variant maintained the ability to bind to the membrane, whereas the negative variant did not. Taken together, our data indicate that FadD13 exists in a dynamic equilibrium between the dimer and monomer, where the monomeric state can adhere to the membrane via the positively charged surface patch.
Protein/peptide oligomerization, cross-beta strand fibrillation, and amyloid deposition play a critical role in many diseases, but despite extensive biophysical characterization, the structural and dynamic details of oligomerization and fibrillation of amyloidic peptides/proteins remain to be fully clarified. Here, we simultaneously monitored the atomic, molecular, and mesoscopic states of aggregating Alzheimer's amyloid beta (A beta) peptides over time, using a slow aggregation protocol and a fast aggregation protocol, and determined the cytotoxicity of the intermediate states. We show that in the early stage of fast fibrillation (the lag phase) the A beta peptides coalesced into apparently unstructured globules (15-200 nm in diameter), which slowly grew larger. Then a sharp transition occurred, characterized by the first appearance of single fibrillar structures of approximately >= 100 nm. These fibrils emerged from the globules. Simultaneously, an increase was observed for the cross-beta strand conformation that is characteristic of the fibrils that constitute mature amyloid. The number and size of single fibrils rapidly increased. Eventually, the fibrils coalesced into mature amyloid. Samples from the early lag phase of slow fibrillation conditions were especially toxic to cells, and this toxicity sharply decreased when fibrils formed and matured into amyloid. Our results suggest that the formation of fibrils may protect cells by reducing the toxic structures that appear in the early lag phase of fibrillation.
Membrane scission is the final step in all budding processes wherein a membrane neck is sufficiently constricted so as to allow for fission and the release of the budded particle. For influenza viruses, membrane scission is mediated by an amphipathic helix (AH) domain in the viral M2 protein. While it is known that the M2AH alters membrane curvature, it is not known how the protein is localized to the center neck of budding virions where it would be able to cause membrane scission. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations on buckled lipid bilayers to show that the M2AH senses membrane curvature and preferentially localizes to regions of high membrane curvature, comparable to that seen at the center neck of budding influenza viruses. These results were then validated using in vitro binding assays to show that the M2AH senses membrane curvature by detecting lipid packing defects in the membrane. Our results show that the M2AH senses membrane curvature and suggest that the AH domain may localize the protein at the viral neck where it can then mediate membrane scission and the release of budding viruses.
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are exceptionally toxic proteins that cause paralysis but are also extensively used as treatment for various medical conditions. Most BoNTs bind two receptors on neuronal cells, namely, a ganglioside and a protein receptor. Differences in the sequence between the protein receptors from different species can impact the binding affinity and toxicity of the BoNTs. Here we have investigated how BoNT/B, /DC, and /G, all three toxins that utilize synaptotagmin I and II (Syt-I and Syt-II, respectively) as their protein receptors, bind to Syt-I and -II of mouse/rat, bovine, and human origin by isothermal titration calorimetry analysis. BoNT/G had the highest affinity for human Syt-I, and BoNT/DC had the highest affinity for bovine Syt-II. As expected, BoNT/B, /DC, and /G showed very low levels of binding to human Syt-II. Furthermore, we carried out saturation transfer difference (STD) and STD-TOCSY NMR experiments that revealed the region of the Syt peptide in direct contact with BoNT/G, which demonstrate that BoNT/G recognizes the Syt peptide in a model similar to that in the established BoNT/B-Syt-II complex. Our analyses also revealed that regions outside the Syt peptide’s toxin-binding region are important for the helicity of the peptide and, therefore, the binding affinity.
MTH1 hydrolyzes oxidized nucleoside triphosphates, thereby sanitizing the nucleotide pool from oxidative damage. This prevents incorporation of damaged nucleotides into DNA, which otherwise would lead to mutations and cell death. The high level of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells leads to a higher level of oxidized nucleotides in cancer cells compared to non-malignant cells making cancer cells more dependent on MTH1 for survival. The possibility to specifically target cancer cells by inhibiting MTH1 has highlighted MTH1 as a promising cancer target. Progression of MTH1 inhibitors into the clinic requires animal studies and knowledge about species differences in potency of inhibitors are of vital importance. We here show that the human MTH1 inhibitor TH588 is approximately twenty fold less potent for inhibition of mouse MTH1 compared to human, rat, pig, and dog MTH1. We present the crystal structures of mouse MTH1 in complex with TH588 and dog MTH1and elucidate the structural and sequence basis for the observed difference in affinity for TH588. We identify amino acid residue 116 in MTH1 as an important determinant for TH588 affinity. Furthermore, we present the structure of mouse MTH1 in complex with the substrate 8-oxo-dGTP. The crystal structures provide insight into the high degree of structural conservation between MTH1 from different organisms and provide a detailed view of interactions between MTH1 and the inhibitor, revealing that minute structural differences can have a large impact on affinity and specificity.
The functionality of membrane proteins is often modulated by the surrounding membrane. Here, we investigated the effect of membrane reconstitution of purified cytochrome c oxidase (CytcO) on the kinetics and thermodynamics of internal electron and proton-transfer reactions during O2 reduction. Reconstitution of the detergent-solubilized enzyme in small unilamellar soybean phosphatidylcholine vesicles resulted in a lowering of the pKa in the pH dependence profile of the proton-uptake rate. This pKa change resulted in decreased proton-uptake rates in the pH range of 6.5–9.5, which is explained in terms of lowering of the pKa of an internal proton donor within CytcO. At pH 7.5, the rate decreased to the same extent when vesicles were prepared from the pure zwitterionic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) or the anionic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho(1-rac-glycerol) (DOPG). In addition, a small change in the internal CuA–heme a electron equilibrium constant was observed. This effect was lipid-dependent and explained in terms of a lower electrostatic potential within the membrane-spanning part of the protein with the anionic DOPG lipids than with the zwitterionic DOPC lipids. In conclusion, the data show that the membrane significantly modulates internal charge-transfer reactions and thereby the function of the membrane-bound enzyme.
Members of the CorA/Mrs2/Alr1 superfamily of transport proteins mediate magnesium uptake in all kingdoms of life. Family members have a low degree of sequence conservation but are characterized by a conserved extracellular loop. While the degree of sequence conservation in the loop deviates to some extent between family members, the GMN family signature motif is always present. Structural and functional data imply that the loop plays a central role in magnesium selectivity, and recent biochemical data suggest it is crucial for stabilizing the pentamer in the magnesium-free (putative open) conformation. In this study, we present a detailed structure-function analysis of the extracellular loop of CorA from Thermotoga maritima, which provides molecular insight into how the loop mediates these two functions. The data show that loop residues outside of the GMN motif can be substituted if they support the pentameric state, but the residues of the GMN motif are intolerant to substitution. We conclude that G(312) is absolutely required for magnesium uptake, M-313 is absolutely required for pentamer integrity in the putative open conformation, and N-314 plays a role in both of these functions. These observations suggest a molecular reason why the GMN motif is conserved throughout the CorA/Mrs2/Alr1 superfamily.
Efficiently carrying out the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for many applications in biology and chemistry, such as bioenergetics and fuel cells, respectively. In biology, this reaction is carried out by large, transmembrane oxidases such as heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) and cytochrome bd oxidases. Common to these oxidases is the presence of a glutamate residue next to the active site, but its precise role in regulating the oxidase activity remains unclear. To gain insight into its role, we herein report that incorporation of glutamate next to a designed heme-copper center in two biosynthetic models of HCOs improves O2 binding affinity, facilitates protonation of reaction intermediates, and eliminates release of reactive oxygen species. High-resolution crystal structures of the models revealed extended, water-mediated hydrogen-bonding networks involving the glutamate. Electron paramagnetic resonance of the cryoreduced oxy-ferrous centers at cryogenic temperature followed by thermal annealing allowed observation of the key hydroperoxo intermediate that can be attributed to the hydrogen-bonding network. By demonstrating these important roles of glutamate in oxygen reduction biochemistry, this work offers deeper insights into its role in native oxidases, which may guide the design of more efficient artificial ORR enzymes or catalysts for applications such as fuel cells.
Class Ic ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) from Chlamydia trachomatis (C. tm.) lacks the tyrosyl radical and uses a Mn(IV)-Fe(III) cluster for cysteinyl radical initiation in the large subunit. Here we investigated and compared the metal content and specific activity of the C. tm. wild-type R2 protein and its F127Y mutant, as well as the native mouse R2 protein and its Y177F mutant, all produced as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Our results indicate that the affinity of the RNR R2 proteins for binding metals is determined by the nature of one specific residue in the vicinity of the dimetal site, namely the one that carries the tyrosyl radical in class Ia and Ib R2 proteins. In mouse R2, this tyrosyl residue is crucial for the activity of the enzyme, but in C. tm., the corresponding phenylalanine plays no obvious role in activation or catalysis. However, for the C. tm. wild-type R2 protein to bind Mn and gain high specific activity, there seems to be a strong preference for F over Y at this position. In studies of mouse RNR, we find that the native R2 protein does not bind Mn whereas its Y177F mutant incorporates a significant amount of Mn and exhibits 1.4% of native mouse RNR activity. The observation suggests that a manganese-iron cofactor is associated with the weak activity in this protein.
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Pho84 high-affinity transport system is the major phosphate transporter activated when the cells experience a limitation in external phosphate. In this study, we have compared the phosphate-responsive mechanism of cells expressing PHO84 with a Δpho84 strain by use of a phosphate analogue, methylphosphonate, which was judged to be suitable for assessment of phosphate homeostasis in the cells. Intracellular levels of the analogue, which in several respects mimicks phosphate, were monitored by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Results show that methylphosphonate is a nonhydrolyzable and nonutilizable analogue that cannot be used to replenish phosphate or polyphosphate in yeast cells grown under conditions of phosphate limitation. However, the presence of methylphosphonate under such conditions represses the Pho5 acidic phosphatase activity of PHO84 cells, a finding that implies a direct role of the analogue in the regulation of phosphate-responsive genes and/or proteins. Likewise, accumulation of the Pho84 protein at the plasma membrane of the same cells is inhibited by methylphosphonate, although the derepressive expression of the PHO84 gene is unperturbed. Thus, a post-transcriptional regulation is suggested. Supportive of this suggestion is the fact that addition of methylphosphonate to cells with abundant and active Pho84 at the plasma membrane causes enhanced internalization of the Pho84 protein. Altogether, these observations suggest that the Pho84 transporter is regulated not only at the transcriptional level but also by a direct molecule-sensing mechanism at the protein level.
Achieving a molecular-level understanding of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation has been a long-standing goal in biology and could be important for the development of novel drugs. Recent breakthroughs in structural biology have led to the determination of high-resolution crystal structures for the beta(2) adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) in inactive and active states, which provided an unprecedented opportunity to understand receptor signaling at the atomic level. We used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the potential roles of ionizable residues in beta(2)AR activation. One such residue is the strongly conserved Asp79(2.50), which is buried in a transmembrane cavity and becomes dehydrated upon beta(2)AR activation. MD free energy calculations based on beta(2)AR crystal structures suggested an increase in the population of the protonated state of Asp79(2.50) upon activation, which may contribute to the experimentally observed pH-dependent activation of this receptor. Analysis of MD simulations (in total >100 mu s) with two different protonation states further supported the conclusion that the protonated Asp79(2.50) shifts the conformation of the beta(2)AR toward more active-like states. On the basis of our calculations and analysis of other GPCR crystal structures, we suggest that the protonation state of Asp(2.50) may act as a functionally important microswitch in the activation of the beta(2)AR and other class A receptors.
Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is an essential enzyme with a complex mechanism of allosteric regulation found innearly all living organisms. Class I RNRs are composed of two proteins, a large α-subunit (R1) and a smaller β-subunit (R2) that exist as homodimers, that combine to form an active heterotetramer. Aquifex aeolicus is a hyperthermophilic bacterium with an unusual RNR encoding a 346-residue intein in the DNA sequence encoding its R2 subunit. We present the first structures of the A. aeolicus R1 and R2 (AaR1 and AaR2, respectively) proteins as well as the biophysical and biochemical characterization of active and inactive A. aeolicus RNR. While the active oligomeric state and activity regulation of A. aeolicus RNR are similar to those of other characterized RNRs, the X-ray crystal structures also reveal distinct features and adaptations. Specifically, AaR1 contains a β-hairpin hook structure at the dimer interface, which has an interesting π stacking interaction absent in other members of the NrdAh subclass, and its ATP cone houses two ATP molecules. We determined structures of two AaR2 proteins: one purified from a construct lacking the intein (AaR2) and a second purified from a construct including the intein sequence (AaR2_genomic). These structures in the context of metal content analysis and activity data indicate that AaR2_genomic displays much higher iron occupancy and activity compared to AaR2, suggesting that the intein is important for facilitating complete iron incorporation, particularly in the Fe2 site of the mature R2 protein, which may be important for the survival of A. aeolicus in low-oxygen environments.
Human leukotriene C-4 synthase (hLTC4S) is an integral membrane protein that catalyzes the committed step in the biosynthesis of cysteinyl-leukotrienes, i.e., formation of leukotriene C-4 (LTC4). This molecule, together with its metabolites LTD4 and LTE4, induces inflammatory responses, particularly in asthma, and thus, the enzyme is an attractive drug target. During the catalytic cycle, glutathione (GSH) is activated by hLTC4S that forms a nucleophilic thiolate anion that will attack LTA(4), presumably according to an S(N)2 reaction to form LTC4. We observed that GSH thiolate anion formation is rapid and occurs at all three monomers of the homotrimer and is concomitant with stoichiometric release of protons to the medium. The pK(a) (5.9) for enzyme-bound GSH thiol and the rate of thiolate formation were determined (k(obs) = 200 s(-1)). Taking advantage of a strong competitive inhibitor, glutathionesulfonic acid, shown here by crystallography to bind in the same location as GSH, we determined the overall dissociation constant (K-d(GS) = 14.3 mu M). The release of the thiolate was assessed using a GSH release experiment (1.3 s(-1)). Taken together, these data establish that thiolate anion formation in hLTC4S is not the rate-limiting step for the overall reaction of LTC4 production (k(cat) = 26 s(-1)), and compared to the related microsomal glutathione transferase 1, which displays very slow GSH thiolate anion formation and one-third of the sites reactivity, hLTC4S has evolved a different catalytic mechanism.
The phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosyltransferase A (PimA) is an essential peripheral membrane glycosyltransferase that initiates the biosynthetic pathway of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs), key structural elements and virulence factors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PimA undergoes functionally important conformational changes, including (i) α-helix-to-β-strand and β-strand-to-α-helix transitions and (ii) an “open-to-closed” motion between the two Rossmann-fold domains, a conformational change that is necessary to generate a catalytically competent active site. In previous work, we established that GDP-Man and GDP stabilize the enzyme and facilitate the switch to a more compact active state. To determine the structural contribution of the mannose ring in such an activation mechanism, we analyzed a series of chemical derivatives, including mannose phosphate (Man-P) and mannose pyrophosphate-ribose (Man-PP-RIB), and additional GDP derivatives, such as pyrophosphate ribose (PP-RIB) and GMP, by the combined use of X-ray crystallography, limited proteolysis, circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry, and small angle X-ray scattering methods. Although the β-phosphate is present, we found that the mannose ring, covalently attached to neither phosphate (Man-P) nor PP-RIB (Man-PP-RIB), does promote the switch to the active compact form of the enzyme. Therefore, the nucleotide moiety of GDP-Man, and not the sugar ring, facilitates the “open-to-closed” motion, with the β-phosphate group providing the high-affinity binding to PimA. Altogether, the experimental data contribute to a better understanding of the structural determinants involved in the “open-to-closed” motion not only observed in PimA but also visualized and/or predicted in other glycosyltransfeases. In addition, the experimental data might prove to be useful for the discovery and/or development of PimA and/or glycosyltransferase inhibitors.
The active center of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) has been studied using B3LYP hybrid density functional theory. Class Ic Ct RNR lacks the radical-bearing tyrosine that is crucial for activity in conventional class I (subclass a and b) RNR. Instead of the Fe(III)Fe(III)Tyr(rad) active state in conventional class I, Ct RNR has Mn(IV)Fe(III) at the metal center of subunit H. Based on calculated (H+, e(-))-binding energies for Ct R2, iron-substituted Ct R2, and R2 from Escherichia coli (Ec), an explanation is proposed for why the enzyme needs this novel metal center. Mn(IV) is shown to be an equally strong oxidant as the tyrosyl radical in Ec R2. Fe(IV), however, is a much too strong oxidant and would therefore not be possible in the active cofactor. The structure of the catalytic center of the active state, such as protonation state and position of Mn, is discussed. Ct R2 has a different ligand structure than conventional class I R2 with a fourth Glu (like MMO) instead of three Glu and one Asp. Calculations indicate that, in the presence of Tyr, Glu at this position is less flexible than Asp, whereas with Phe both Glu and Asp are equally flexible. This may be a reason why conventional class I RNR has an Asp, while Ct R2, lacking the tyrosine, has a Glu.
gamma-Resorcylate decarboxylase (gamma-RSD) has evolved to catalyze the reversible decarboxylation of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate to resorcinol in a nonoxidative fashion. This enzyme is of significant interest because of its potential for the production of gamma-resorcylate and other benzoic acid derivatives under environmentally sustainable conditions. Kinetic constants for the decarboxylation of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate catalyzed by gamma-RSD from Polaromonas sp. JS666 are reported, and the enzyme is shown to be active with 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoate, and 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylbenzoate. The three-dimensional structure of gamma-RSD with the inhibitor 2-nitroresorcinol (2-NR) bound in the active site is reported. 2-NR is directly ligated to a Mn2+ bound in the active site, and the nitro substituent of the inhibitor is tilted significantly from the plane of the phenyl ring. The inhibitor exhibits a binding mode different from that of the substrate bound in the previously determined structure of gamma-RSD from Rhizobtum sp. MTP-10005. On the basis of the crystal structure of the enzyme from Polaromonas sp. JS666, complementary density functional calculations were performed to investigate the reaction mechanism. In the proposed reaction mechanism, gamma-RSD binds 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate by direct coordination of the active site manganese ion to the carboxylate anion of the substrate and one of the adjacent phenolic oxygens. The enzyme subsequently catalyzes the transfer of a proton to Cl of y-resorcylate prior to the actual decarboxylation step. The reaction mechanism proposed previously, based on the structure of gamma-RSD from Rhizobtum sp. MTP-10005, is shown to be associated with high energies and thus less likely to be correct.
Tyrosine D (TyrD) is one of two well-studied redox active tyrosines in Photosystem II. TyrD shows redox kinetics much slower than that of its homologue, TyrZ, and is normally present as a stable deprotonated radical (TyrD<bold>). We have used time-resolved continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance and electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy to show that deuterium exchangeable protons can access TyrD on a time scale that is much faster (50</bold>100 times) than that previously observed. The time of H/D exchange is strongly dependent on the redox state of TyrD. This finding can be related to a change in position of a water molecule close to TyrD.
ZipA is an essential component of the cell division machinery in E. coil and other closely related bacteria. It is an integral membrane protein that binds to FtsZ, tethering it to the inner membrane. ZipA also induces bundling of FtsZ protofilaments and may play a role in regulating FtsA activity; however, the molecular details behind these observations are not clear. In this study we have analyzed the oligomeric state of ZipA in vivo, by chemical cross-linking, and in vitro, by native gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE). Our data indicate that ZipA can self-associate as a homodimer and that this self-interaction is not dependent on the FtsZ-binding domain. This observation rules out the possibility that FtsZ polymers mediate the ZipA self-interaction. Given this observation, it is possible that a certain population of ZipA is recruited to the division septum in a homodimeric form.
The ba(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus is a membrane-bound proton pump. Results from earlier studies have shown that with the aa(3)-type oxidases proton uptake to the catalytic site and pump site occurs simultaneously. However, with ba(3) oxidase the pump site is loaded before proton transfer to the catalytic site because the proton transfer to the latter is slower than that with the aa(3) oxidases. In addition, the timing of formation and decay of catalytic intermediates is different in the two types of oxidases. In the present study, we have investigated two mutant ba(3) CytcOs in which residues of the proton pathway leading to the catalytic site as well as the pump site were exchanged, Thr312Val and Tyr244Phe. Even though ba(3) CytcO uses only a single proton pathway for transfer of the substrate and pumped protons, the amino-acid residue substitutions had distinctly different effects on the kinetics of proton transfer to the catalytic site and the pump site. The results indicate that the rates of these reactions can be modified independently by replacement of single residues within the proton pathway. Furthermore, the data suggest that the Thr312Val and Tyr244Phe mutations interfere with a structural rearrangement in the proton pathway that is rate limiting for proton transfer to the catalytic site.